Meet Shahraz Islam: GP Trainee Undertaking a Clinical Fellowship at Saint Francis Hospice
Shahraz Islam is a GP Trainee and he is undertaking a clinical fellowship at Saint Francis Hospice to improve access to palliative and end-of-life care for people living in Barking and Dagenham.
Here Shahraz shares more about this important project and why he believes strengthening links between GPs and healthcare professionals will help achieve the best outcomes for local people.
I have trained across GP practices in Barking, Dagenham and Havering and have also worked at Queen’s Hospital. These experiences have given me first-hand insight into the pressures facing both primary and secondary care services.
My time at Saint Francis Hospice marked my first experience of working in palliative care as a practising doctor. I found this experience incredibly valuable, as it helped me develop a much deeper appreciation of the vital role palliative care plays in supporting individuals and their loved ones during some of the most challenging moments in their lives.
As someone who lives and trains locally, I feel a strong connection to the communities I serve and am particularly motivated to address health inequalities across the borough.
Learning from hospice care in practice
During my placement, I worked on the ward and alongside the Hospice Community Team, which exposed me to a wide range of individual needs and care settings. This helped me develop a deeper understanding of the complex and highly personalised nature of palliative care.
I was able to see first-hand the breadth of services provided by Saint Francis Hospice and the vital role played by a wide range of professionals, from clinical teams and therapists to family support and wellbeing services, all working together to support individuals and those close to them.
Alongside my clinical work, I also worked closely with the hospice’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team. This involved exploring how services can better meet the needs of people from minority and underserved communities and how hospice care can feel more accessible, inclusive and representative for everyone.
About my fellowship project
My clinical fellowship focuses on how general practice can better identify, support and refer people who would benefit from palliative care, particularly in Barking and Dagenham. This is an area experiencing rapid population growth, high levels of diversity and significant health inequalities.
My work builds on existing research and data, including previous work highlighting disparities in access to palliative care, as well as Saint Francis Hospice’s strategic priorities. As part of the project, I am reviewing available data on hospice referrals and access, learning from good practice already taking place within local GP surgeries, speaking directly with GPs and practice teams to understand the challenges they face and identifying practical and realistic ways to improve pathways into hospice and palliative care services.
By working collaboratively with primary care, I aim to highlight what is already working well while also addressing the barriers that can prevent timely access to specialist support.
Why this work matters
Earlier and more equitable access to palliative care can significantly improve quality of life for individuals, while also helping to reduce pressure across the health system.
Through this project, I hope to support GPs in managing complex palliative needs with greater specialist input, reduce pressure on GP appointments and consultations, prevent avoidable hospital admissions, improve coordination of care between services and ease strain across the wider NHS, including secondary care and waiting times.
Ultimately, this work aims to ensure that more people receive compassionate, high-quality palliative care, closer to home and at the time they need it most.
Looking ahead
As a future GP working locally, I believe that stronger collaboration between primary care and hospice services is essential to improving outcomes and experiences.
I hope this fellowship will lead to practical recommendations and lasting improvements that support both healthcare professionals and the diverse communities of Barking and Dagenham, while helping Saint Francis Hospice continue to provide equitable care.
