When Jean Godden needed help to manage the side effects of radiotherapy, she was referred to Birmingham Hospice’s Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) team for help, which allowed her to live independently and remain at home.
Jean, 85, is one of hundreds of local residents throughout Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Solihull and Sandwell regularly visited at home by a CNS – highly qualified nurses who provide vital help with symptom management, psychological support and Advanced Care Planning (ACP).
Jean was diagnosed with cancer in October 2023 and was referred to the hospice when she was left in pain by her treatment. Since the beginning of 2024, she’s been visited regularly at her Northfield home by CPCT team member Ruth Roberts.
Jean has experienced changing symptoms over this time and Ruth has been able to assess these and arrange for the most appropriate care and medications to be available.
When she was running out of her prescription medication, due to her changing symptoms, Ruth was also able to help ensure she wasn’t left in discomfort.
“Everybody’s marvellous at the hospice; whoever you speak to on the phone is so helpful,” said Jean
“Ruth’s an angel, she gets things done which I could be waiting six months for.
“She arranged for my medication to be increased, and it was done straight away. It was even delivered to me, which was amazing.”
There are a range of additional services a CNS can assist those living in the community with. These include helping with benefits, providing support documentation for organising disabled parking badges and accessing equipment such as walking frames, beds and wheelchairs.
The support has given the much-loved mother and grandmother, who lives on her own, a new lease of life. For daughters Julie and Lynne, it has taken some of the pressure off them.
Jean was even able to go on holiday several times this year, including a special trip to Ireland for her granddaughter’s wedding.
Importantly, patients living at home can access advice by calling our Hospices of Birmingham and Solihull (HoBS) helpline. If HoBS cannot address the problem directly, they can signpost people to other services which may be better placed to help.
“I know I can call the hospice at any time, which is a huge relief,” said daughter Julie Hardwick.
“I have called at 8pm on a Sunday night asking for advice when I have seen mom in pain, and I didn’t know what to do. Ruth and everyone at the hospice are amazing. Quite frankly, I don’t know how we’d cope without their help.”
Members of the CNS team can support anyone aged 18 or over living at home with long-term illness, including cancer, neurological conditions, genetic conditions and renal failure. They are referred to the hospice by GPs, district nurses or other medical professionals.
Nurses also talk candidly to patients and families about planning for what happens at the end of life, which allows them to think carefully and ensure their wishes are respected.
Ruth said: “We look at what their preferred place of care or death might be, if there’s anything they particularly value or are frightened of, or if there’s anything they feel very strongly about, like admission to hospital or being at home when they die. It’s based on the individual.
“People have said to me in the past that they didn’t want to have the conversation but feel better once they’ve had it.”
Each CNS has their own area of expertise and experience, such as respiratory or oncology, and complicated cases are discussed with their colleagues at fortnightly multidisciplinary team meetings.
Those under their care can also be informed about the other services at our hospices like the Living Well Centre and counselling.
“Our primary aim is to make sure people have the best quality of life they possibly can in the time they have left,” added Ruth.
“As a CNS it’s a real privilege to be allowed into their homes and get to know the families well. By visiting them you can see if they are beginning to struggle and be proactive in their care.”
Most importantly, Jean’s experience of Ruth and Birmingham Hospice also alleviated her initial worries.
She said: “If you don’t know about the hospice you can think it’s quite scary, but my experience has completely changed my mind. You can’t fault them on anything at all.”
