Each of our teams hold a vital piece of the puzzle in making up Hospice Isle of Man. Our Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Team are a central part of our healthcare team. They are usually the first people you will come into contact with here at Hospice. They ensure that patients can access care in the place of their choice.
We continue with introducing our amazing CNS Team; you may recognise this wonderful lady - Val Stratford Parson. Val is a Clinical Nurse Specialist and has been with us for 12 years now.
What does a day look like in your role?
"The Medical Director, Nurse Consultant, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Hospice at Home Team, Social Work Assistant, Admiral Nurse Team all meet each morning to discuss patient’s needs. I then check my caseload and arrange visits to patient’s homes to discuss and manage symptoms. I liaise with the wider multi-disciplinary team to mobilise services, equipment and support for the patients and their families. I spend one day a week based at Hospice to co-ordinate new referrals, any distress calls and enquiries."
What’s your favourite thing about working at Hospice?
"I feel blessed to work with so many intelligent, compassionate and caring people who all provide a fantastic service at the worst time. It is an honour to part of a patient and their family’s journey at end of their life."
Share a highlight story or a favourite memory from your time at Hospice.
"We were very lucky to be given funding to restart the Day Therapy Unit and I was given the task of setting this service up following its closure during the pandemic. At the end of June we celebrated our first anniversary – which was a very special day. It has been a huge joy to see the impact that this service at Hospice has had on the patients that attend."