I began my nursing career at the age of 18 and strangely I didn’t love it. We did a bit of everything, but it wasn’t until I had my final placement on the haematology unit at Bournemouth General Hospital that I worked out what sort of nurse I was and wanted to be. For me relationship was key, knowing the person I was caring for, communication and compassion. True holistic care. I went on to get my first job on that unit in Bournemouth, and even though my career has seen me detour into intensive care, school nursing, clinical research and even NHS management, my love of oncology and haematology nursing was a constant thread.
One of my earliest teachers was a patient who was dying on that ward in Bournemouth. Days away from death I washed and cared for him, bringing comfort and clean sheets, space and presence. I learnt from this man how important these final days were and how important my diligent care was to him and his family. This experience, and many other experiences since led me to a lifetime interest in end of life care.
Following 34 years of nursing I was invited to work with Living Well Dying Well as a trainer and assessor whilst completing my own diploma. This not-for profit organisation founded by Hermione Elliott aims to transform the way dying, death and bereavement is considered in our communities. My role enables me to bring all my experience together to support the aspirations of an organisation which aims to create a world that incorporates and embraces death as a natural and normal event, approaching it with understanding, openness and hope.
I am currently at the final stage of completing my diploma and have been a member of EOLDUK for since 2022, taking advantage of the additional training they offer so that I can start to work as a doula in my own community in mid Cornwall.