Nurses caring over Christmas

Our hospice at home nurses will be working on Christmas Day and throughout the festive season, doing everything they can to keep patients comfortably at home with their families.

At a time when many services operate reduced hours or close altogether, our hospice at home teams will continue to provide their usual service, visiting patients in their homes as needed, any time of the day or night, every day of the year.

Clodagh Kellet, Hospice at Home Nurse in St Albans, is working on Christmas Eve and covering the early shift on Christmas day. She knows on a personal and professional level just what it means to families to have access to specialist care at home.

“My husband died in 2017 and Rennie Grove helped to get him home from hospital,” explains Clodagh. “I know it means so much to our patients to have one last Christmas at home with their family.”

Clinical Nurse Specialist Shelley McPhee, who’ll be supporting families in St Albans on Christmas Day, agrees: “People don’t choose when they get poorly. So why shouldn’t we be available and ready to give advice, reassurance and medical care whenever we’re needed?

“My partner and I will spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning together, and have our Christmas dinner on Boxing Day.”

Clodagh’s got her Christmas dinner lined up, courtesy of her children, who’ll be prepping and cooking while she’s visiting families.

“It’s a very Christmassy thing, to be able to do something for someone else. It’s a privilege for me to be able to make a difference, and I’m proud of my family for enabling me to do that,” she says.

Judith Moore, Head of Nursing and Patient Services Herts, adds: “I’m so proud of the whole team. By responding quickly with care, compassion and skill, they can help patients stay safe, at home, with their families. That always feels especially poignant at this time of year, and more so now than ever given the COVID-19 situation. No-one wants to be in hospital at Christmas, and I know our nurses feel privileged to help patients stay at home.”