Clodagh Sowton – Director of Nursing

If you wanted to you could go round the corridors of our Hospice – moving very quickly in order to catch up with your quarry – and somehow our both very busy and vibrant Clinical Director of Nursing would find the time to join you and enjoy doing so! Clodagh is married to Chris and also runs a very smart Renault sports car, which tells you quite a lit abut her personality!

Q: How did you make your first connection with Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice?

A: I first became aware of the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice when I was working at the Royal Surrey County Hospital as a Macmillan Nurse. I referred many patients to the Hospice where nursing and medical care was patient and family orientated.

It represented everything I wished for the people I was caring for and I was impressed by the whole Phyllis Tuckwell team.  This was of great comfort and reassurance to me, working as I was then, in a large district general hospital, and Phyllis Tuckwell never let me down.  I had worked with Dr. Morris whilst I was at Guilford, and when he offered me the Challenge of applying for a New Post at the Hospice – I was delighted to accept it.

Q: What job do you do?

A: I came to the Hospice as Clinical Nurse Manager, to work with Matron (now retired), to lead the nursing team and manage the in-patient area.  The opening of the new Inpatient Unit was an opportune time to review the nursing structure, clinical practice and education within the Hospice – which I was asked to oversee.  The New Unit was under way, Palliative Care was changing quickly and it was important to ensure that care given was in line with current thinking.

Q: What did you expect?

A: Coming into a new job at a time of such sweeping changes was bound to present some difficulty – I had expected that. I also knew a lot of people who had been drawn to the life of working within Hospices – was already aware that when people see patients nursed with dignity, it reassures – but even after working here for two years now it is still so special – watching people arrive at the Hospice, facing the unknown and very frightened, and then, seeing the fear dissipate as they walk down the corridor.

Q: What were your feelings when you first started?

A: It was an exciting time – I was aware of the potential at the Phyllis Tuckwell for myself and all the nurses.  New staff and staff education had brought in fresh ideas for a move towards a more Holistic form of treatment.  These were exciting and innovative ideals, but challenged the foundations of the ‘stable’ team.  I was very thankful that all the staff enthusiastically embraced the many new ideas and methods presented to them as we made ready to move the next steps along our evolving road. 

Q: Did you have any misconceptions?

A: The changes both within my job and at the Hospice were huge, so adjustments were obviously going to happen on every side.  Moving between the nursing teams plus between management and nursing, meant the job could be difficult and certainly was – at the end of the day I could feel isolated and be quite lonely.  So I looked for support to my staff and received it in large measure.  I am very proud to be part of such a lively, enthusiastic and dedicated team of nurses.

Q: How has your role changed?

A: My particular role has now changed – I have been Director of Nursing since March of this year and we have just recruited Louise Dallain who has joined the team as Ward Manager.

Q: What would you say to anyone who hasn’t walked through the doors of PTH before?

A: Come and walk through our doors! District Nurses, Community Nurses, other Health Care Professionals – now come as part of their training.  Patients’ families, carers and friends, as well as the general public – ALL of them worried about their first contact with Phyllis Tuckwell – they now return as friends…Education Confounds Fears.

Q: If you could wave a magic wand – What would you wish for the Hospice?

A: As a member of the Management Team – I would wish for more money generally for Palliative and Hospice care.  We take the place of what used to be part of the NHS and the philosophy of hospice care couldn’t happen in ordinary hospitals at the present time.

I would wish for further support of patient choice in every aspect of their treatment well-being.

My third wish would be for the continuation of growth of the Hospice – and the happiness and well-being of everyone who works in it.        

top of page