About Us
Carole has been a Healthcare Assistant with our Hospice at Home team since September 2008 but also worked in the IPU at Knowle and as a receptionist at Brentry.
The Hospice at Home service provides 24 hour nursing support to patients and their carers at home during the last week of life.
The aim of this service is to allow patients to choose to die in their own home when admission to a hospital or hospice might otherwise be needed. Patients are usually referred by their District Nurse, GP, a Hospital Palliative Care Team or a St Peter’s Hospice Community Nurse Specialist.
Care is provided by a team of experienced hospice nurses who work alongside the patient’s GP and District Nurses. Although Healthcare Assistants cannot administer drugs they monitor a patient’s symptoms and contact the District Nurse or GP to provide pain relief when required.
Healthcare Assistants provide a package of care to suit each individual patient and their family including respite care so carers can either sleep during the night or run errands during the day.
Carole says: “I love doing this job because we are able to give one-to-one attention and care to our patients and get to know them even for a short period of time. Families are pleased to see you but they often don’t know what to expect. I do think they really appreciate our personal touch and we help them cope with a very difficult time in their lives. Many families say that having someone to talk to from the outside who won’t pass judgement is a big help as they can offload all their thoughts and we just listen.
I provide the same level of care to our patients that I would wish to receive at the end of my life. I hope that we help make those final hours for the patients and families as pain free and dignified as possible.”
In 2010/2011 the Hospice at Home team provided care to 188 patients allowing more to die at home. The service is continuing to expand to care for more patients in their own homes across Bristol and the surrounding areas.
“I love doing this job because we are able to give one-to-one attention and care to our patients and get to know them even for a short period of time.”