The Year of the Nurse and Midwife

The year of the nurse and midwife Laura and Claire, Cedar Ward

2020 is the Year of the Nurse and Midwife. To celebrate, we sat down with some of our amazing clinical team, to find out a little bit more about them, and their life at the Hospice…

Laura & Claire Laura has worked at Boswall Road for four years. While it can at times be demanding (not least because of the 12 miles a day she can cover on the ward) she confidently says that it’s the best job she’s ever had! “The building, the people, the views, you couldn’t ask for a better environment for the patients, and that makes our job so much easier.” Fun Fact: Away from the Hospice, Laura is a keen baker, although she has a little bit less time for that now that she is studying again in her new role as a Clinical Support Worker!

Claire has been with us on the wards for 3 years, and, like Laura, thinks that this is the hardest, and yet most rewarding job she’s ever had. She recently took on one of the brand new Clinical Support Worker roles too and takes great pride in her work at the Hospice. Fun Fact: Claire is a twin and it runs in the family – both of her grandparents, and both of her parents are twins too!!

Lynsey, Kerry & Sharon Lynsey has been with us for 3 years, coming from a background of support work. She loves life at the Hospice, and says her team makes Pentland ward a special place to work! Fun Fact: Clocking up around 20,000 steps per shift clearly isn’t enough for fitness enthusiast Lynsey, who loves the gym and walking her pair of Shitzus (who also have their own Instagram account!)

Lynsey, Kerry and Sharon, Pentland Ward.

Kerry has been with us for 4 years, also coming from a supportive care background. She loves the environment in the Hospice, and interacting with all the patients and their families, which is a big change from the one-to-one care she was used to in her past job. Fun Fact: Away from the Hospice, Kerry can also be found in the gym, regularly getting up at 6.30 on her days off to meet Lynsey! The training is clearly paying off as Kerry, Lynsey and Sharon are now all invaluable members of The Ship of Wallys, and are already looking forward to their 3rd Dragon Boat Race. Sharon joined the St Columba’s team after 12 years in the NHS, and 4 years later she is still enjoying it just as much. “I love working here, even though we are kept busy, it doesn’t feel like you’re under pressure, and I get to spend lots of time with the patients, which is great”. Fun Fact: Sharon is another fitness fanatic, who unwinds in the gym or the swimming pool. Although she’s quick to point out that all the exercise is needed to combat the number of cakes consumed in the staff room, with Kerry’s chocolate orange cake being a particular favourite!

Congratulations!

We’re delighted to share the news that six members of our care team have recently completed advanced training courses in Falls Prevention, The Principles of End-of-Life Care and Dementia Care, as part of their personal development. A huge well done to Sharon McGaw, Christine Purnell, Anne Bryne, Laura Taylor, Michelle Thompson and Tommy Dalgleish.