Visit us www.thameshospice.org.uk or call us 01753 842121 7 Caring for the future Are you a nurse or do you know someone who is? We have opportunities for newly qualified and experienced Staff Nurses to join our wonderful team Whether you are returning to nursing after a break or looking for bank work, we need you to continue delivering expert nursing care and make the difference to local people at life’s most difficult time. We are experts in palliative and end-of-life care and can offer you flexible hours in a supportive workplace, where the welfare of patients and families is at the centre of everything we do. We work in collaboration with local healthcare providers and take an innovative approach to developing new patient-centred services in a small, friendly organisation. Nursing at Thames Hospice “My name is Anne Jones; I am a Sister on the <strong>In</strong>patient unit and have worked at the Hospice for 10 years. I have been a registered nurse since 1984 and worked on acute wards and a surgical unit before joining Thames Hospice. As the nurse in charge, I am responsible for the day-to-day running of the <strong>In</strong>patient Unit and the quality of nursing care – ensuring patients’ physical, psychological and spiritual care needs are met, as well as supporting their families. “Patients may come to the Hospice to have their symptoms – such as nausea and pain – controlled, to provide respite care for their families and, of course, some patients come to us for end-of-life care. Our goal is to provide holistic care to patients and families each and every day – supporting them through their life-changing journeys. “People who are coping with life-limiting conditions are sometimes frightened about coming into a hospice as some people think that the only reason you come into the Hospice is because you are facing the end of your life. But many patients come to the Hospice for a few days because they are experiencing symptoms they are finding difficult to manage, and once these symptoms have been managed they can go home. “I feel privileged to work at the Hospice and our staff are committed to maintaining our excellent standards of care at all times. No one knows what the future holds and any one of us may need the services of the Hospice during our lives. We all need to help patients and families live every moment of each day and help create memories for them to cherish. “I became a nurse because I have always felt passionate about providing care to people who need it. I enjoy helping people and it’s rewarding to offer support, knowing that I may have given comfort to someone at a vulnerable time. My decision to be a nurse came early on in my life and my passion to achieve this grew over time. For me, palliative and end-of-life care is where I feel I can make a difference, and at the end of my shift I know that I’ve done something worthwhile and made a positive impact on someone’s life.” Find our current vacancies, meet the team and learn more about what it’s like to work at Thames Hospice, at www.thameshospice.org.uk/workwithus call 01753 848929 or follow us on social media We took a few moments to chat with Jeannetta, who volunteers on our reception, about why she supports the Hospice, and what made her decide to leave Thames Hospice a gift in her Will. Why do you support the Hospice? “My father died of cancer in hospital. His medical care was commendable, but little thought or consideration was given to my mother during this stressful time. For this reason, I especially appreciate the Hospice’s holistic approach for the patient and their family.” Thames Hospice is so well respected in the community – almost everyone knows someone who has been helped by the Hospice – so it was the first place I chose to volunteer after I retired early What do you do at the Hospice? “20 years ago I began as a Volunteer Driver and helped in what was the Day Hospice. Immediately I learned how much the Hospice meant to patients and their carers. One chap, who lived alone, would say when I collected him, ‘This is the best day of my week; I smile the minute your car comes into view to take me to the Hospice.’ “Now I’m on reception, I see how much our visitors appreciate the Hospice’s care and compassion. Visitors often comment on how relieved and grateful they are that their loved one is in our care.” What made you decide to leave a gift to Thames Hospice? “As I have supported the Hospice for over 20 years now, it seems natural to continue that support with a gift in my Will. It gives me great satisfaction to know I will be giving further support to the work I keenly supported in my lifetime.” What do you hope your gift will achieve? “Providing exceptional resources and generous staff-to-patient ratios comes at a substantial, ever-increasing, cost. I hope my gift in my Will, will help the Hospice to continue to offer their excellent care, free of charge, to patients and families at a critical, vulnerable time in their lives.” How did you find the process of making a gift in your Will? “It was very straightforward. It was easy to do with a solicitor and any solicitor will know the right wording to help you achieve what you want. You can even amend an existing Will if you wish.” We have recently produced a Gifts in Wills Guide to help supporters like Jeannetta. If you would like a copy, or want to hear more about gifts in Wills, call 01753 842121 or email stuart.munday@thameshospice.org.uk Our Fundraising Promise Do you know about our Fundraising Promise? This is our promise to you, our supporters, about how Thames Hospice raises money and the security of your personal details. We are members of both the <strong>In</strong>stitute of Fundraising and the Fundraising Regulator, following the code of practice to maintain a high standard of fundraising. We do not share our supporters’ details with anyone; we only ever use your details to thank you for your support, send details of ways you can continue to support us, and to update you on what is happening at the Hospice, like with this edition of <strong>In</strong> <strong>Touch</strong>. Everyone at Thames Hospice really values your ongoing support and our relationship with you, which is why we have set out our commitments to you in our Fundraising Promise. For more information, please see www.thameshospice.org.uk/ ourfundraisingpromise Thank you for your continued support. Neil Harman, Director of Fundraising Help us raise thousands of pounds We are looking for outgoing and proactive people with a good knowledge of their local community, to help us distribute our collection boxes. Our collection boxes generate more than £12,000 every year, an important contribution to our fundraising activities. As a Collection Box Coordinator, you would be managing the placement and pick-up of collection boxes in organisations including pubs, shops and offices. We are particularly looking for volunteers in Crowthorne, Gerrards Cross, Marlow, Wokingham and Uxbridge. The support you provide will make a big difference to our Fundraising Team and, most importantly, to our patients and their families. If you could spare some time on a regular basis, with flexible hours to suit you, then please get in touch with Sandra or Alison on 01753 842121.