Without the support of generous volunteers like Pat who helps in our Lymphoedema Clinic, the Hospice simply would not be able to operate as it does.

As part of Lymphoedema Awareness Month - Pat, who formerly worked in IT - shares her volunteering story: 

“I started volunteering for the Hospice around Easter 2002 with an aim of helping provide patient transport. It took a while for my PVG to come through, so while I waited I helped in the kitchen.

"Christmas Eve that year, the volunteer co-ordinator asked if I would help in the new Lyphoedema Clinic which had been set up in the Hospice.

"The then CEO - Frank Clark - had a vision to have a Lymphoedema Clinic in the hospice and brought in Moira Boyle a specialist to head up the work. Part of her role was to educate local GPs about the condition, as there wasn’t a great awareness of it.

"Moira worked on her own with the patients for nine months but it was very time consuming as the treatment at that time used short stretch bandages which had to be rewound.

"The hospice wanted to explore if volunteers could be trained in basic patient support assisting Moira by rewinding the bandages, so I was brought in to help with that.

"Due to the lack of awareness of Lymphoedema at that time, the needs of some of the patients we saw initially were quite complex, so when they started treatment with us the changes and improvement to their health and wellbeing were significant.

"Over the years the treatment changed and the bandages are easier to apply and remove. There are always new and improved ways of treating the condition and the Strathcarron team are very focussed on staying up to date with best practice.

"If people are made aware and caught early enough and treated, they can often deal with the ongoing care themselves at home.

"During COVID we had to re-evaluate how we supported patients and we looked at ways they could self manage with guidance by offering telephone support.

"Now my role mainly involves wrapping and sending out garments to patients.

"Having worked in IT, I enjoy the change in role and the patient contact. Being hands on and helping care for people is such a privilege. I have enjoyed hearing all their life stories and it has been interesting to hear what life has been like for them and how that has changed since they have been involved with our service.”

 WHAT IS LYMPHOEDEMA?

 

Lymphoedema is a collection of lymph fluid which cannot drain away.  It can be caused by a variety of factors including cancer, cancer treatments, trauma, injury or genetic causes. The result is swelling – often of the limbs but other parts of the body such as the head and neck or the trunk can be affected too.

Initially when people are referred to the Forth Valley Lymphoedema Service, they are assessed by a Lymphoedema Practitioner who will provide the appropriate care and advice. For some people referral to the specialist lymphoedema clinic may be required.

As lymphoedema is a chronic condition, the aims of treatment are individualised to help people manage this as independently as possible.

Skin care, gentle exercise and sometimes compression garments and self massage are all part of the long term management of lymphoedema. 

Treatment at the specialist clinic may additionally involve a short course of specialist bandaging, sometimes in combination with gentle skin massage (manual lymphatic drainage). Following this compression garments are fitted to be worn daily.

Once the swelling has stabilised and people are confident in their self management regime, then they can be discharged from the Specialist Clinic either for continued monitoring by their Lymphoedema Practitioner or by their GP with the understanding that they can be referred back to the Specialist Clinic at any time if required.

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Find out more about our Lymphoedema Services | Strathcarron Hospice 

Find out more about Volunteer for us | Strathcarron Hospice