VIDEO: Nurses touch the lives of so many patients
THIS week your favourite local newspaper caught up with two very special women from our town who are making a difference to the lives of hundreds of people who are less fortunate than themselves.
Service manager Bronia Johnson and ward manager Sue Carter work at St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice’s inpatient unit in Lincoln – and have spent a combined 66 years caring for sick and terminally-ill people.
The women’s work – and the work of their staff – has a direct impact people’s lives.
Sue said: “People might not realise just how many people living in their community are helped by the hospice.
“We really do help a lot of people.”
The hospice is part-funded by the PCT but still relies on charitable donations from generous members of the public.
“Your help makes such a difference. It allows us to buy things that’ll support patients, like ice-making machines, special pressure-relieving beds, fleece blankets and water jugs,” said Bronia.
She said: “It’s amazing how many jugs we get through – they’ve got to be washed at such a high temperature because of infection control.”
The hospice’s 11-bed inpatient service is free and helps anyone over the age of 18 who has an incurable disease. Some people just stay at the hospice for a few weeks before being discharged, while others stay for a long time.
Sue – who manages a top team of people including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and social workers – said: “We know we have the support of the public, the feedback we get from patients and their families excellent and that shows in our donations and letters.
“I love making a difference to patients’ journeys and I love empowering other staff to make a difference.”
Behind the scenes, Bronia – working with Marie Curie Cancer Care nurse Barbara Ball – has developed a ‘responsive need tool’ to assess patients’ needs and make sure they get the right level of care.
The tool is now used by NHS Lincolnshire and was even featured in the BMJ (British Medical Journal).
Bronia said: “Not many nurses get published in the BMJ so we’re really proud of what we’ve achieved. Our work is all about partnership working to make sure patients get the best possible care.”
For information about how to make a donation call St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice on 01522 511566 or visit stbarnabashospice.co.uk .
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Weather for Horncastle
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
