Free PLAB 2 Palliative / Pain Medicine stations
Palliative and pain medicine PLAB 2 stations cover symptom control, difficult conversations and end-of-life care. They test empathic communication, holistic assessment, and compassionate, clear explanation.
What PLAB 2 palliative / pain medicine stations cover
Palliative and pain medicine PLAB 2 stations cover symptom control, difficult conversations and end-of-life care. They test empathic communication, holistic assessment, and compassionate, clear explanation.
Topics you can practise in these stations include:
- Cancer pain control
- Cancer pain control in metastatic prostate cancer
- Buprenorphine pain patch counselling
- Request for help to die
- Drowsy patient on morphine
- Refusing IV antibiotics
How to approach a palliative / pain medicine station
Take a holistic history of symptoms and concerns, communicate with empathy and honesty, and focus on comfort, dignity and the patient's own priorities.
The underlying structure is the same as any PLAB 2 station: greet and confirm identity, explore the patient's ideas, concerns and expectations early, take a focused history, screen for the red flags below, explain your thinking in plain English, and agree a shared plan with clear safety-netting. See the free PLAB 2 preparation guide for the full study plan.
Red flags to screen for in palliative / pain medicine stations
Examiners reward candidates who actively screen for what must not be missed. In palliative / pain medicine stations, the key red flags include:
- Uncontrolled pain or breathlessness
- Spinal cord compression: back pain with new neurology
- Hypercalcaemia: confusion, thirst, constipation
- Signs the patient is in the last days of life
- Severe psychological or existential distress
Skills these stations test
The 6 palliative / pain medicine stations break down by skill type as:
- Counselling 4
- History and management 1
- Ethical communication 1
All 6 free palliative / pain medicine stations
Every station below is free. Click one to sit it as an eight-minute spoken consultation, then get your mark-scheme breakdown.
Counselling 4
- Cancer pain control - Mrs Maureen Kershaw, 74 (metastatic breast cancer)
- Cancer pain control in metastatic prostate cancer - Mr Malcolm Langley, 66
- Buprenorphine pain patch counselling - Mrs Dorothy Aldington, 68
- Request for help to die - Mrs Eleanor Whitcombe, 64 (motor neurone disease)
History and management 1
Ethical communication 1
Practise other PLAB 2 specialties
- PLAB 2 Ethical / Communication stations (62)
- PLAB 2 Obstetrics & Gynaecology stations (52)
- PLAB 2 Paediatrics stations (42)
- PLAB 2 Neurology stations (34)
- PLAB 2 Psychiatry stations (31)
- PLAB 2 Cardiovascular stations (27)
- PLAB 2 Gastrointestinal stations (27)
- PLAB 2 Dermatology stations (25)
- PLAB 2 Endocrine stations (24)
- PLAB 2 Musculoskeletal stations (20)
- PLAB 2 Respiratory stations (20)
- PLAB 2 ENT stations (19)
- PLAB 2 Surgical stations (15)
- PLAB 2 Urology stations (15)
- PLAB 2 Medicine stations (14)
- PLAB 2 Genitourinary Medicine stations (12)
- PLAB 2 Infectious Diseases stations (11)
- PLAB 2 Haematology stations (9)
- PLAB 2 Ophthalmology stations (7)
- PLAB 2 Breast Surgery stations (2)
Frequently asked questions
What PLAB 2 palliative / pain medicine stations come up?
Plabity's 6 free PLAB 2 palliative / pain medicine stations include presentations such as cancer pain control, cancer pain control in metastatic prostate cancer, buprenorphine pain patch counselling, request for help to die, drowsy patient on morphine, refusing iv antibiotics. Each runs as an eight-minute spoken consultation marked to the PLAB rubric.
Are these PLAB 2 palliative / pain medicine stations free?
Yes. All 6 are free to practise. You sign up with an email address, with no card required.
How are the stations marked?
Each station is marked across the three PLAB domains: data gathering, clinical management and interpersonal skills. You get a breakdown of every criterion with quoted evidence from your own consultation, in seconds.
Practise palliative / pain medicine stations free.
6 spoken palliative / pain medicine cubicles, marked to the PLAB rubric. No card, no plan.
Start practising free