Beyond Advanced Communications
Beyond Advanced Communications (Formerly known as Advanced Communications Skills Plus)
Melinda Presland -Consultant Pharmacist, Palliative & End of Life Care – Oxford University Hospitals
Mel attended the course in 2023
“I was apprehensive about attending the Advanced Communication Skills Plus course at first. My previous Advanced Communications training with another organisation had involved role-playing, giving and receiving feedback, and watching myself on video — it was so painful! Thankfully, this course was very different, and I was incredibly grateful for that.
Going in, I was curious about how I would put the learning into practice. One proud moment was realising just how much my communication skills had grown over time. Communication isn’t something you master in a single course — it’s a skill you have to practise constantly, and this course showed me that the practice had truly embedded in my everyday work.
Looking back, they showed a video of a patient, who happens to be a doctor who has been given an end-of-life diagnosis. It connected to me because he’s a real person and he’s talking through real conversations and communications he’s had with other healthcare professionals. This video demonstrated where communication becomes transactional rather than relational. We get so carried away in healthcare because we have checklists and proformas that we must complete. We become so task-oriented but that’s not what communication is about. This was my ‘aha’ moment. Clinicians often think they’re doing well because they share a lot of information, but what patients really need is empathy, presence, and an understanding of impact.
This course reminded me of that simple but profound truth, and it’s something I still carry with me in my practice every day.
Another insight was the importance of authenticity. I realised that bringing your true self into a conversation matters. I’m from Yorkshire, and I naturally use phrases and an accent that might feel unfamiliar to others, but the course reassured me that I could remain authentic while communicating effectively.
It was also eye-opening to learn from the mix of participants. Hearing senior professionals admit they sometimes struggled with communication reminded me that even at higher levels, it’s easy to get it wrong — and that learning is always ongoing.
The course has had an impact on my work. It helped me reflect on how I’m perceived, how I communicate, and how I can prepare for different situations. It’s particularly useful for telephone and online appointments, where reading nonverbal cues is harder, and where awareness of how I present myself online is crucial.
I’ve even noticed the benefits in my personal life, whether talking to my husband, friends, or family. Communication is something you continually develop, and this course reinforced that practice and reflection are key.
Overall, the Advanced Communication Skills Plus course was brilliant. I cannot recommend this course enough”
