It might be that somebody wants to die at home and that’s really important to them. We are instrumental in organising what needs to happen to make that safe, to make them comfortable, and to make the family feel supported, because it can be a bit of a bumpy road at times. We’re there to go alongside.

We work out what their priorities are and what we feel we could help with. We come up with a plan together to try to meet those issues and create some goals, and try to meet those symptoms as best we can.

I think when a hospice nurse turns up at the door sometimes there’s anxiety or anticipation: ‘They’re going to talk about dying with me, am I dying now? Do they know something I don’t?’ 

We get to know them as a whole, we get to know their family, and reassure people it’s not scary when we get to the door; we’re very friendly! I think we’re very good at relationship building. We take every patient as an individual and we get to know that person.

At that point in their life, it’s a very private time but we’re welcomed into it and that’s a real honour.  

Emma Setterington, clinical nurse specialist