Julie Fitzpatrick, Ward Assistant

Julie kindly shared her experience working at the Hospice:

What was it like when you first joined the Charity?
When I joined in 2005, I worked as a ‘domestic’ and thought I should be very quiet when going around the patient areas. “Don’t talk to them. They don’t need your company. They’re dying, leave them alone”, I used to say to myself. I would tiptoe around and then I’d hear staff laughing and being noisy. I couldn’t believe it; until one of the nurses told me to, ‘just be normal.’

What is it like working on the Inpatient Unit at the Hospice?
It’s just a normal workplace. I quickly learned that not all our patients wanted silence. I started talking to everyone and I realised they liked my company. I expected a solemn, sad atmosphere and it is not. We try to keep it more of a home from home for patients. It’s not too clinical, it’s not like a hospital.

What do you think is special about the Hospice?
I think that we can trying to keep things as normal as you can for the patients their visitors. They are going through a hard time but just knowing that they’ve got space to go and make a cup of tea or walk in the garden can help. We know that we can’t make their loved ones better but even if you offer them a cup of tea or chat with them, you’ve tried to help them go through that bad time and make it a little bit easier. You don’t always have to say anything, sometimes it’s just a touch on the shoulder or take a moment to listen to them. If they want to be left alone you just do what they need rather than being too pushy but let them know that we’re there if they need us. If they get tearful you’ve got your shoulder there for them to cry on. If they want to talk to one of the volunteers or the chaplain that’s available to them. So, it’s quite nice to give them that little bit of support when they need it.

Everybody works together and really looks after each other. If someone’s going through something [difficult], we’re like a little herd of elephants around them, protecting them. It’s nice to still see that after working for the Charity for 18 years, I see the new staff join the herd too.

What surprises you about hospice care?
I think how much you still learn. Even after all these years, things come up and I think, ‘I didn’t know that’. It’s not just changes—it’s noticing new things or hearing words and wondering what they mean. The clinical staff are great at explaining things, especially with the big terms.

What does your working day look like?
I’m not just stuck to having to do one particular single thing every day. I take all the food orders, help feed patients [if they need it], make beds, move rooms around, do the laundry and make sure things are ordered that we need and answer the buzzers on the ward.

Can you think of a time where you helped make every moment count?
One patient hadn’t eaten for a long time and suddenly decided he fancied scampi, just scampi. We got him a big bowl full and to everyone’s surprise he ate the lot and really enjoyed it. It was lovely knowing that we were able to get him the one thing he wanted.

Is there anything you find particularly rewarding about your role?
A lot of families come back and praise the staff, even if it’s a small thing you did two or three years ago, it’s helped that family a little bit. All those bits add up, into a bigger picture. That’s the reward.

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If you would like to work at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity please see our current vacancies: https://careers.arhc.org.uk/