“Through my role I hope to dispel the myths that a hospice is only for people who are dying and that only people with cancer have access to our services.  At Alice House Hospice care is available to anyone with a life limiting condition, in any setting, whether this be as an inpatient at the Hospice, on the Long Term Unit, in Day Services at the Holistic Wellbeing Centre, or in the home. 

“Currently I am linking with local services, both in hospitals and the community, to ensure people have access to the varied, specialised services provided by Alice House Hospice.  This is also helping us to develop new services for people with heart failure.

“One of the aims of my role is to improve the quality of life of people who have a heart failure diagnosis and empowering them to make choices and decisions about their wishes, during and at the end of their life.  Conversations may include where the patients want to be cared for if their condition deteriorates which could be started earlier in the disease process.  Having discussions around goals at the end of life is difficult but needs to be done in a timely manner to ensure patients have the chance to discuss their wishes with their loved ones.  This can help reduce anxiety in patients and carers at the end of life.

“Through working alongside the other Specialist Nurses at Alice House and also through linking in with external providers, exciting new opportunities to develop services for people with heart failure have been identified, such as Fatigue, Anxiety and Breathlessness (FAB) Clinics and carers Groups.  These are currently in the process of being developed at Alice House Hospice to support people and their carers.”