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- Meet Emma Freyne, Community Paramedic Specialist
A career dedicated to compassionate care
After 16 years on the frontline with South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), Emma Freyne joined Thames Hospice as a Response Paramedic in September 2024. For Emma, it was the natural next step in a career built around caring for people when they need it most.
"I had spent 16 years working frontline. During my last few years with South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), I knew I wanted to dedicate the remainder of my paramedic career years to caring for people with palliative and end-of-life care needs. When I saw the advert, it felt like the role at Thames Hospice was meant to be and came at exactly the right time in my career."
Today, Emma is part of the Hospice at Home team, supporting patients and families in the comfort of their own homes.
"My role at the Hospice is to support patients and their families in their homes with symptom control and advance care planning throughout their illness, alongside discussions about their treatment, prognosis and end-of-life care."
More than emergency care
Many people associate paramedics with emergency response, but Emma says hospice paramedicine is a highly varied role, focused on providing the right care for each person.
"Being a paramedic in the Hospice is a very versatile role. We do at times still respond to acute, reversible conditions in patients' homes, then refer to the pathway that best suits their needs. Some patients are still having active treatment and require admission to an acute hospital, while others we assess at home and refer to their own GP or Urgent Care Response Teams, where hospital is not their chosen pathway. We work closely alongside patients and their families, ensuring we provide the least invasive treatment or support wherever possible."
Emma also highlights the value of the multi-disciplinary Hospice at Home team.
"We have nurses and paramedics as part of the Hospice at Home team, which I think is a great way of ensuring that patients are cared for as efficiently as possible. Nurses have a different set of skills to a paramedic and vice versa. Working as a team ensures that we can provide excellent care at home, often without the need to refer patients to other community services, helping them remain in their preferred place of care."
Every day is different
No two days are the same for Emma and the Hospice at Home team.
"We start the shift with a handover from the night team before allocating planned visits. Throughout the day we work closely with consultants, nurses, occupational therapists, counsellors and other colleagues to ensure every patient receives the best possible care at the right time."
Alongside planned visits, Emma also responds to calls through the Hospice's 24/7 telephone advice line.
"Patients and families can seek support via the 24/7 telephone advice line, which is available round the clock. We support with end-of-life care questions or concerns, prescriptions, over-the-phone assessments, equipment requests and occupational therapy needs. Collaborative working with community services, hospitals and our Inpatient Services is vital to ensure the best possible outcome for each patient."
The privilege of caring at home
For Emma, one of the most rewarding aspects of her role is supporting people in the place they feel safest.
"I enjoy working in the community as I can still see people in their own home. I find this very humbling as people welcome you into their home at their most vulnerable time. Their home, their safe place. I am always grateful to be part of that."
She says it is the everyday moments that make the greatest impact.
"Despite a patient's illness and the symptoms it presents, it is always a privilege to ensure that, every step along their journey, the Hospice at Home team can help them remain in their home alongside their family, belongings, safe space and sanctuary at the most vulnerable time of their life. There have been countless times this has been evident since I started, and I am grateful to be able to be a small part of that pathway."
Looking after yourself while caring for others
Like frontline ambulance work, hospice care can be emotionally demanding.
"This job can be emotionally challenging, very similar to when I worked on the frontline. I have my ways of coping: family, friends, my pets, motorcycle and holidays all help me stay mentally well. I work fewer hours now too, and I feel the balance is right for me."
Celebrating International Paramedics Day
As International Paramedics Day celebrates the profession, Emma hopes more people will recognise the growing opportunities for paramedics beyond emergency care.
"I feel the role of the paramedic in palliative care is very well placed. I am proud to work in a team that is adaptable, innovative, supportive and incredibly able, with experience across the whole team. The ability to overcome challenges at busier times demonstrates this."
Reflecting on her career, Emma says the profession continues to evolve.
"Paramedic medicine is fascinating, always changing and adapting to new evidence-based practice. This is the drive that keeps me learning. The paramedic role is becoming more adaptable, with positions in many pre-hospital settings employing paramedics to work in the community."
For Emma, one thing has remained constant throughout her career.
"I have always been proud of achieving my role as a paramedic. Working alongside my paramedic colleagues, I'm sure they feel the same. International Paramedics Day highlights the role and I think this can only be a positive thing."