"Here, supporting each other is a natural extension of the care we provide to patients"

Chris: Staff Nurse - Band 6
It was during her time at Barnet General Hospital that Chris first came across North London Hospice. "I had to go there a couple of times with patients and I really liked what I saw. The rooms were nice and comfortable, and the whole place had a friendly, relaxing feel."

Then, around seven years ago, Chris decided to come and work here herself. So has the experience lived up to her expectations? "What I enjoy most about North London Hospice is that you're able to offer a different quality of care. I'd never done palliative care before, so being able to work with people on a one-to-one basis was a real eye-opener for me. You really get to talk to your patients and spend proper time with them."

As a result, Chris intends staying on at North London Hospice for a considerable time to come. She is also starting a course in palliative care at Hatfield University.

Tracey: Clinical Nurse Specialist - Band 7, Community Team

Tracey joined the community team almost a year ago, in what was her first clinical nurse specialist role. Before that, she had been working as a community nurse at Barnet PCT for five years and had just completed her degree in district nursing.

She had always found palliative care to be the most rewarding part of her previous job and decided to come and work at the Hospice so she could become more involved with patients and families. "Working here you have your own caseload, so you are able to be more effective, whereas in district nursing, there is less continuity of care".

Although Tracey was initially worried about making the move from district nursing, she has found everyone in the team to be extremely helpful and supportive. She followed a structured induction programme and spent her first four months on the inpatient unit, where she gained a real understanding of the ethos of the hospice. She finds her role valuable and rewarding and the hospice a really nice environment to work in.

The biggest challenge for Tracey has been changing her mindset from a curative model where people will get better, to providing palliative care at the hospice. "You can never change the outcome, but you can change the journey".

Paul: Staff Nurse - Band 5
Paul was working in the outpatient's clinic of an HIV Hospital, when he decided to make the move into palliative care.

"In a Hospice," he says, "you're able to make a real difference to the patients and their families. It's not like in a hospital where you're rushed off your feet and you just don't have the time to give people quality care."

As for North London Hospice itself, Paul has this to say: "The atmosphere of the place changes according to what the patients want. Sometimes you have to be very sensitive. But at other times, the people you're caring for just want to have a laugh and really live life to the full."