Nurse
Manager's Report 2000-2001
The demands for Hospice care continue to rise
year by year and at times we have been overwhelmed by referrals for
patients who desperately need our help. We are aware that we are a
valuable resource for the people who need us and strive to allow equal
access to as many people as possible.
The last year
has been a busy one on the wards, and each week brings new challenges.
Despite the level of activity, we never lose sight of our primary aim which
is to provide individualised, high quality care and support, for people with
life-limiting illnesses and their family and friends. In order to achieve
this we rely on our dedicated team of nurses all of whom are committed to
our ethos of individualised patient care. At a time when nursing shortages
are constantly in the news, we at the Hospice are able to attract new
nursing staff.
Some of the
developments this year have been small but have had direct benefits for the
patients. Many of the nurses have undergone training in massage enabling us
to offer it to more patients. This has been particularly appreciated by
patients who are unable to sleep, and by relatives who are anxious about a
loved one.
As always the
flow of ‘thank you’ letters from relatives are touching and moving. The
letters below were received recently from families whose close relatives had
died here:-
“I was so
grateful that you had agreed to admit my mother to Phyllis Tuckwell as I
knew she would be cared for during her last days, and I was proved right. I
can’t thank everyone enough for their kindness and caring manner towards
her, it was such a relief to me and my family to know that she was in such
capable hands.”
Helen Cameron
“I would like
to express my enormous thanks to you and all the staff and volunteers at
Phyllis Tuckwell for the care, love and kindness shown to my mother and to
us as a family, in the last days of her life. Words cannot express my deep
debt of gratitude.”
Moira Murray
Letters such as
these make us proud to be part of an organisation which exists to help
people through such difficult times.
Louise Dallain
Nurse Manager |
