We have recently welcomed a new member to the Hospice at Home team, due to increasing need and the successful development of our Hospice at Home service.
Penny Ellis (Hospice at Home Nurse) will work with the team to support patients to die at home with their loved ones beside them.
What attracted you to apply for the role for hospice at home nurse?
I have always enjoyed working within the field of Palliative & End of Life nursing and I value the importance of providing the very best care for patients who choose to die in their own homes.
Tell us a little bit about your career to date…
I qualified in March 1998 and started my working life at Macclesfield Hospital working on the general medical wards before moving onto orthopedic surgery. I further progressed into bed manager and clinical coordinator role which enabled me to gain many different nursing and managerial skills. 7 years ago I moved into the area of district nursing to further develop my skills and thoroughly enjoyed caring for palliative and end of life patients. My last position was that of practice nurse whereby I gained further skills, but can honestly say I missed caring for patients with life limiting illness.
So far, what have you found that you enjoy most about working at Blythe House?
Since starting at Blythe House at the beginning of August I have been welcomed into the team and it is clear to see the staff are very passionate about their roles. I have had the opportunity to meet most staff and also some of the volunteers that very kindly give their time to the charity.
What are you most looking forward to about your role at the hospice?
The Hospice at Home service is already providing individualised care to patients in their own homes. With the development of my role I can further provide an extensive assessment of each patients needs when first referred into the service and develop individualised care plans. I am very much looking forward to working alongside other professionals at Blythe House to deliver the very best care and support to patients and their families with life limiting illness.
