Dr Sarah Parnacott has hosted a clinic weekly at Blythe House since 2002 and has been a member of our board of trustees since 2018, chairing the hospice’s clinical committee.
Dr Parnacott, a consultant in palliative medicine, is employed by Chesterfield Royal Hospital, providing care to patients across the High Peak and surrounding communities.
After retiring from her consultant and medical director role at neighbouring Ashgate Hospice just before Christmas 2023, Dr Parnacott is still incredibly busy in her work life, hosting weekly palliative medicine* clinics and a twice monthly lymphoedema** clinic here at the hospice, and visiting patients in their homes who are unable to travel to Blythe House.
Dr Parnacott is a honorary lecturer at The University of Sheffield, teaching communications skills to fourth year medical students including having sensitive and difficult conversations relating to palliative and end of life care. She also spends time each week as a medical examiner at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, scrutinising the medical records of patients who have died and liaising with their doctors and relatives before a medical certificate for their cause of death is issued.
Sarah said: ‘I didn’t always know that I wanted to be a doctor. Back when I was at an all-girls’ school, it wasn’t something that was openly discussed or offered; I thought I might become a nurse or a radiographer. When I was 14 years old, it was my chemistry teacher who said I should investigate a career in medicine, and this piqued my interest.’
It was undertaking voluntary work during her late teens that inspired Sarah into a career in palliative medicine particularly. She explained: ‘I undertook voluntary work for Trafford social services, and it was here that I had my first real exposure to someone who was nearing end of life, a former serviceman, and his abysmal quality of end of life care. My piano teacher’s husband died soon after at St Ann’s Hospice in Greater Manchester and it was she who suggested that I went to have a look around. I met the consultant, matron and ward sister, and spent some time with them. I was surprised and delighted when I was offered a job as a healthcare assistant, and worked at the hospice that summer and all my university holidays for the first two years of my medical degree at Sheffield.’
Later, Dr Parnacott worked at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and St Ann’s Hospice before deciding to train in oncology in Sheffield. After two years, she realised that her heart lay in palliative care so switched registrar posts, acquiring her certificate of completion of specialty training in 2000. Sarah was appointed consultant in Chesterfield and took up the post in June 2002.
Sarah said: ‘I am committed to supporting my patients improve their quality of life, and to ensure that they can stay at home at the end of their life, if that is their wish. I get massive satisfaction from my job; I hope to improve a terrible situation for my patients by managing their painful, distressing, or unpleasant symptoms to ensure they are living their best quality of life.
‘I enjoy empowering patients to take control of their lives, giving them support to plan for their future and ensuring they have access to the right benefits, social care and health support during an incredibly overwhelming time in their lives. I hope to make situations the best I possibly can for my patients and their loved ones.’
Outside of her very busy work life, Sarah enjoys walking her dog, crafting and has recently taken up pottery.
*If you have an illness that cannot be cured, palliative care makes you as comfortable as possible by managing your pain and other distressing symptoms. Find out more.
** Secondary lymphoedema is caused by damage to the lymphatic system or problems with the movement and drainage of fluid in the lymphatic system; it can be the result of a cancer treatment, an infection, injury, inflammation of the limb, or a lack of limb movement. Learn more.
