News & Review Autumn/Winter 2018 StGiles_News & Reviews_Sept 2018_HR | Page 12

A day in the life of our Community Nursing Team – Simon Lewis Simon Lewis is a member of our community nursing team, one of 22 staff who care for approximately 400 people at any one time living with potentially incurable illnesses. As an Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialist covering Lichfield and the surrounding areas, Simon works with patients and their families to make sure the right support is in place for them. What does your role involve? “The community team is there to care holistically for a patient and their family and carers, so I will work with them to decide what the whole family needs. This can range from symptom control to making sure they are receiving the right benefits. I can also refer to other hospice departments, whether that’s our Day Hospice, complementary therapy or family support. I’ll work alongside GPs, hospitals, district nurses and social care services so that everyone is kept in the loop about what our patients need. As a team we also work with patients in care homes and other settings, so we will work in partnership with the staff supporting them.” What is a normal day for you? “A typical day includes a combination of visits and phone calls to patients and their families, assessing and reviewing how they are doing. Sometimes I am the first point of contact with a patient and other times they will come to us via the GP or the hospital – usually when they have been told that active treatment is no longer an option for their illness. It can be hard to accept their diagnosis and it’s part of my role to encourage people to have conversations about the care needs they may have in the future and the choices they may need to make.” How does the community team help patients and their families? “I think a great deal of our work is about trying to help people live as normal a life as possible for as long as they can. Finding out you have an illness that is potentially incurable can be devastating. I’m there to provide emotional as well as practical support and to take away some of the pain, whether physical or mental.” Can you tell us what you value most in what you do? “I think the care people receive when they are coming to the end of their life stays in the minds and hearts of their families for a long time, whether they are good or bad memories. I want to help people have the best possible care and support that they can and it’s a privilege to be able to help people through a really difficult time in their life.” We know that people sometimes think that a hospice is just a building, however what we do extends beyond those walls. More than 80% of our care is provided within the community by people like Simon. Your support means we can help more people living with incurable illnesses to stay in their homes with their families, whilst still receiving our care. “I want to help people have the best possible care and support” Simon 12 We’re here for you because you’re here for us