{
  "abstract": "Background Starting a new role in palliative care can present both professional and emotional challenges. To address this, a regional palliative care team developed a Buddy Scheme to offer informal peer support to new doctors across multiple hospices and hospital sites.Aims The scheme aims to enhance trainee wellbeing, confidence and integration by pairing each new specialty doctor, GPVTS trainee, or trust grade doctor with a more experienced colleague who has at least 12 months of palliative care experience.Methods Each new doctor is voluntarily matched with a ‘buddy’ who provides informal guidance on practical and emotional aspects of the role, including adapting to daily responsibilities, preparing for on-calls, navigating appraisals, and reflecting on complex cases. The scheme is distinct from formal supervision and includes a structured escalation policy aligned with GMC guidance to manage concerns, if any, around staff wellbeing or patient safety (General Medical Council. Good medical practice: Domain 3: Colleagues, culture and safety. GMC. [internet]).Results Now in its second year, the scheme has received positive early feedback, indicating improved trainee confidence, increased satisfaction, and stronger peer relationships. The initiative is modeled on successful examples from similar programs.Conclusion This Buddy Scheme offers a scalable, low-cost strategy to support trainee wellbeing and foster a culture of openness and peer support in palliative care settings.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Michael’s Hospice, Basingstoke, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Jessica Walding"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "St Michael’s Hospice, Basingstoke, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Jemma Storrar"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P-239 Supporting new palliative care doctors: implementation of a regional buddy scheme",
  "uid": "d31b741d-7bae-5dd1-b80d-533715ab0b55"
}