We bid a fond farewell to Carol and Alison this week as they retire from Strathcarron Hospice.

 

Clocking in close to 100 years of nursing between them, they are both a fountain of knowledge and experience and will be much missed by our Hospice team.

 

Carol and Alison have cared for thousands of patients and their loved ones over the years, supporting people to live and die well, making every moment count.

 

Carol on the end of the phone as part of our Live Your Life support line, and previously in Day Care and on our In-Patient Unit & Alison out in our community caring for those in need as a Clinical Nurse Specialist.

 

We will miss you - enjoy your retirement!

Carol 

“As I prepare to retire in May 2026, I have been reflecting on 48 years of nursing and what brought me to Strathcarron Hospice. 

I started training as a student nurse in 1978, and my first ward placement was a ‘care of the elderly ward’ at Falkirk Royal Infirmary. The Consultant in charge was Dr Harold Lyon’s, who at this time was busy working with friends behind the scenes, on their vision of a Hospice for the local community. This would become Strathcarron Hospice, which would open in 1981. 

 

As part of my learning, he took me with him on his community visits where he assessed patients for potential admission to the ward. I remember how gentle and caring he was. 

 

He was interested in the whole person, rather than focusing on the illness and would ask: 

 

“What does your illness stop you from doing?”  

“What is important to you?” 

 

As a qualified nurse I worked in Gynaecology for the next 16 years and looked after cancer patients from diagnosis until death and my passion in Palliative Care developed. After being seconded on a week's ‘Care of the dying,’ course at the hospice in 1995, I knew this was the type of work I wanted to do. I started working on the nurse bank at Strathcarron, until there was a suitable permanent post, 2 years later. 

 

I loved my work in the inpatient unit and was there for 23 years. Doing whatever I could to enable patients to live as well as possible until end of life, while supporting their families. 

 

As part of my personal development, I started doing some bank shifts in daycare and this gave me greater insight into the work that goes on outside the ward, in the community. When a post came up in January 2019, I was ready for this change of role. 

 

I enjoyed the whole atmosphere of daycare, with relationships at the heart of the service. The social interaction, support and friendship. The creative activities that enhanced quality of life, with meaningful distraction from life’s problems. Some wonderful memories and legacies were created there. I feel very privileged to have been part of this, in the year leading up to the pandemic, when everything would change. 

 

Lockdown and moving through the continuing restrictions of Covid 19 meant we could not continue as before. We did our very best to stay connected with support calls, quizzes, packages, craft projects, zoom sessions our regular ‘The Hug,’ newsletter, supporting our patients through the most difficult of times.

 

We were also reaching more new patients and carers over the telephone, and it was identified that our traditional day – care model had limitations. This was the opportunity to modify the service and make sure the hospice was equipped to cope with the increasing demands in the future. ‘The Live Your Life Team,’ was formed and aimed to reach more people and support them to live well with their life limiting condition, in their local communities. 

 

I feel very proud to have been part of this ‘nurse led team’ since the start and the way we continue to support more people. You never know how each day will turn out and our support line means people can contact us directly, without a professional referral for the first time. It empowers them to access support when they need it. My 30 years of experience in Palliative Care have been put to good use here. 

 

I still ask the same questions Dr Lyon’s did all those years ago: 

 

“What does your illness stop you from doing?” 

“What is important to you?” 

 

I have been extremely fortunate to work in a job I love and with the most amazing colleagues over the years. I have found fulfilment, purpose and growth, working in Strathcarron Hospice and feel I have made a positive impact. How lucky am I. 

 

In this final year I was asked to present our Royal Patron Princess Anne, with a posy at her annual visit, this was a privilege and highlight of my career. 

 

I will miss everyone.”

 

Alison

Alison started her nursing training in 1976 at Forester Hill Nursing College in Aberdeen and worked in midwifery, gynaecology and district nursing before joining the community team at Strathcarron Hospice, where she worked for over 27 years.

 

Alison said: “I was the last intake at Forester Hill to have a starched white apron and dress. Palliative care wasn’t a speciality when I started out – we have come so far since then, such as IV fluids used to come in glass bottles and we limited medications we could use. It seems very primitive when you look back.

 

Working in the community we have had a fantastic team – and working collaboratively with colleagues in primary care, acute sector and tertiary centres too. I liken a patient’s journey to a jigsaw – sometimes it’s just a little piece you add and other times you can play a much bigger part in that jigsaw. The collaborative working has been one of the biggest game changers I have seen in my career.

I have enjoyed my time at Strathcarron, I will miss everyone.”