Julia Bryan is a community nurse specialist who started working at Saint Francis Hospice when it first opened in 1984. She shares her reflections on the pandemic and how it has changed the way the charity supports the community.


I have been working throughout the pandemic and it has been an incredibly challenging time for all nurses.

My own practice in palliative care has changed during the pandemic.

More support and advice has taken place over the phone on the hospice’s 24-hour specialist advice line.

The stories from patients and families have, at times, been so very sad and often heart-rending as people speak openly to our team of clinical nurse specialists about the situations they find themselves in.

Feedback regarding our team has been positive and I have had personal feedback from a patient’s family saying I was the go to person to phone when she needed advice or support.

It is as important as ever to discuss a patient’s wishes and where they would like to be cared for early in a patient’s palliative care journey.

This can be reassuring for their families and support the grieving process. All the nurses in the community team are experienced and open up these discussions in a sensitive manner.

In palliative care, you have one chance to get things right and showing kindness at such a difficult time gives patients and families the confidence they can phone our specialist advice line when in need.

This last year has been a very difficult time for all, but even more so for those who have a non-curative disease.

I have been amazed by the humanity shown by health care professionals, carers and families in such an extreme time in history.

I am aware that sadly there are many more bereaved families this year due to Covid, and that many families have not been able to say goodbye.

The hospice has a team who provide bereavement to support those who need it the most.

It is about being compassionate, caring and supportive but always listening and being sensitive to the needs of others who require our service.

When a family member thanks you for the support you have given and the difference you have made, that means a lot and it reminds me what a privilege it is to be a nurse and why I am so proud to be a nurse.