Sponsor a Nurse
Sponsoring a nurse helps secure the future of Thames Hospice, so we can continue to be there for patients and families, now and in years to come.
Accessibility
Sponsoring a nurse helps secure the future of Thames Hospice, so we can continue to be there for patients and families, now and in years to come.
In life's most vulnerable moments, compassionate, expert care isn't just a service, it's a source of unwavering comfort. Our nurses, the very heart of our Hospice, offer continuous support, creating a safe haven of care both within our Hospice and in patient’s homes. They transform difficult days into moments of solace and ensure no one is alone. They have the time to care.
The demand for our services is growing, and we need your help to ensure we can continue to provide this essential care to everyone who needs it.
…Their dedication shines through in everything they do.
They are not just medical professionals; they are compassionate companions, dedicated listeners, and enduring sources of comfort. From registered nurses and healthcare assistants to paramedics - each member of our team plays a crucial role in providing holistic care that addresses the physical, emotional, and social needs of our patients and their families.
Our cheerful duo in our Outpatient Services team, bring infectious joy and laughter, uplifting patients and making every day brighter.
Read moreMarta was an intensive care nurse for 20 years before joining Thames Hospice. After three weeks, she knew it was her job for life.
Read moreSue brings a positive attitude and over 40 years of experience to the Hospice where she ensures that every patient has a reason to smile.
Read moreLauren's journey into hospice care was deeply personal, sparked by the loss of her father almost 10 years ago. Lauren is driven by a desire to make a difference.
Read moreSeeking a strong sense of community and a place where he could make a real difference, Sultan found his niche in hospice care, valuing both the supportive team and the opportunity to bring comfort to patients and their families during challenging times.
Read moreKim's commitment to hospice care is rooted in a deep understanding of what patients and families go through. Having experienced the loss of her parents, she brings a unique empathy and a strong desire to offer crucial support during challenging times.
Read moreCarmel joined us four years ago, seeking a change after working in an NHS hospital. From the moment she arrived, she knew it was where she belonged.
Read moreLewis is a part of our bustling community team. Responding to emergencies and making sure people can receive care in a familiar environment.
Read more
“We support people living with life-limiting conditions, trying to help them stay independent and feel good. It's not just about the medical aspects, it's about the whole person. We offer tailored therapeutic care, like physiotherapy and complementary therapies, all in a really welcoming, safe space. A big part of our role is chatting with patients, having a laugh, we might do some arts and crafts, have a sing along – whatever makes them feel a bit more themselves and relaxed. It’s about giving patients some normality, supporting them in every way we can."
"People think hospices are depressing, but it's really not like that here. It's about pain control, symptom management, and giving people a better quality of life. It's about living, not just dying. The day therapy unit really is about offering a place for normality and support."
What do you find most rewarding?
"It's seeing them come in nervous and then wanting to come back next week. Knowing we've made them feel at home, that we've given them a place where they can be themselves. It's about being there for them, listening, and doing everything we can to make their day a bit brighter. And when families tell us how much we've helped, that's really rewarding."
"It can be tough. We think about some patients, especially the younger ones a lot. But you have to learn to switch off, to separate work and home. But we support each other, and we talk about things if we need to. It's important to have that balance, but also to know you've made a difference."
What do you do?
“I have the privilege of walking alongside patients and their families during life’s final chapter. It is a role that is both heartbreaking and beautiful. Supporting patients by managing their symptoms and helping them find comfort, dignity and peace in their remaining time is a true honour. For the time they are with us, I become part of their second family – many of my patients tell me I’m their angel.”
What's one thing you wish everyone knew about hospice care?
“I wish people knew that what you feel here is love, not sadness. Even though there are tears at the end, what families remember in the long term isn’t the pain, but the comfort and happiness of being able to make that final time together truly beautiful.”
What do your friends and family think of your job?
“When I tell people I work at Thames hospice, they say, ‘How sad is that?’ They don’t know that it’s a place of love. Every day is very rewarding.”
“I administer medications, manage pain, and handle all the usual nursing tasks. But really, it's about providing holistic care. We focus on the whole person – their emotional and social needs, as well as their physical ones. A typical day involves checking in with patients and their families, ensuring they're comfortable, and addressing any concerns. We create a comforting environment, with things like music and spa baths, and take the time to really listen.”
“It's about going beyond just the medical side of things. It's about creating special moments, those little things that bring joy and comfort. Like with a patient who loved Dolly Parton – playing her music and contacting her team to get a video message. Even though the patient passed before it arrived, the family absolutely cherished that memory. That's what's rewarding. It's knowing you've helped create a cherished moment, a happy memory, during a difficult time.”
It can be stressful. My family are very supportive, especially after a tough day. I keep a journal to process things. And I feel very luck to work with such a supportive team.
What do you do?
“My job as a healthcare assistant involves assisting patients with washing, going to the bathroom, assisting with feeding if people struggle, making drinks, looking after relatives, and caring for patients after they've passed too.”
What's one thing you wish everyone knew about hospice care?
"Before I started working at the hospice, I would automatically think of death or the end, or sadness. Actually, it's not always at the end of someone's life that they come here. Sometimes they come for pain management and to get symptoms under control and return home afterwards.
Tell us about a memorable moment?
"We looked after a lovely lady who loved Abba and Mamma Mia. Her daughter had arranged a celebration in our sanctuary here, which overlooks the lake. Her daughter dressed up as a singer from Abba and got a friend to join her – and we all sang along to Mamma Mia! Microphones, glitz, glamour and bubbles - it was a very special time."
"I work in our community response team visiting patients in their homes. Every day is different, it could involve visiting a patients family if they're worried, sorting out medications, or helping manage someone's pain."
"Definitely working with the team. I've worked in nursing for about 10 years and have never had a team spirit and colleagues like this before – we really look after each. Regarding patient care, the satisfaction you get after seeing someone pain-free when they were suffering a lot, or seeing the relief in their family, is immense. I've had comments from spouses who suddenly realise they don't have to be a 24-hour carer anymore, when we step in to support them. That kind of feedback gives me great satisfaction."
"I remember a wife in her eighties, who had struggled caring for her husband at home after difficult hospital stays. She was amazed when we offered her a drink in the evening while her husband was being cared for, saying she couldn't believe she could finally rest and be supported too. It was a shock for her. She said she could never believe she could get that kind of rest and support while her husband was still being cared for. That still sticks with me.”
"I am basically the first voice that a person or a family member hears when they've been given a palliative diagnosis. My role is to introduce myself but also to gauge where that person is on their journey. I’m basically the first-person people speak to, so I’m here to provide a gentle introduction to the Hospice. I also show people around to build continuity of care and show people we are a happy place."
"The word hospice has become a very fearful word. People just assume that when you go to a hospice you're coming to die. And I would explain that’s not what we do. We actually come into somebody's life when they need us when they're palliative – for emotional wellbeing, supporting with pain and symptoms, and just being alongside them. We step in and step out as they need us, and there's no pressure. Everybody's an individual, and we treat people that way. The misconception is that the only reason they come to a hospice is because they're imminently dying. Palliative can be a long process, and we are just supporting and guiding them through an unknown journey."
"It is exhausting talking every day and realising that you have to be very empathetic. It greatly humbles me. It makes me realise how precious life is. I usually come away meeting people from so many different circumstances, and it's the smallest things that get to you. I always take a positive from it. It makes me look at life very differently. I'm privileged to be on these people's journeys, to walk alongside them so deeply in their end of life and with their families."
"A typical day involves medications, helping with washes, and attending meetings as an advocate for our patients. But it's also the caring side – making a cup of tea, holding a hand, talking to patients and their families. We look at their physical, emotional, and psychological needs – what we call 'total pain'. It's very different to other nursing jobs."
"One patient missed her girls' nights. So, we brought it here. Thai takeaway and proper catch-up with her friends. It was so nice for her to experience that again.”
“We help families return to being families, and patients find peace with the right support. Seeing that relief, knowing I helped them find that comfort, have that time together - is a really good feeling."
“My job is probably best described as a jack of all trades with everything hospice care. It's managing crises of symptoms. It's managing the emotional strain end of life care can have on both the patient and their family and making that as comfortable and dignified as possible. I see it as empowering as much as it is easing symptoms.”
“Seeing the improvement in someone's very dramatic symptoms and the effect this has physically and emotionally. For example, really bad nausea or a lot of pain – by being able to ease that symptom you allow the patient to experience other emotions giving them time with loved ones free from pain, away from nausea, away from discomfort.”
“I'd like everyone to know that hospices are not all doom and gloom. It's not all just death and dying. It's about embracing positive moments with patients, with carers, with family. Really, it's about enjoyment of time spent with loved ones.”
…Enabling them to bring love, warmth, empathy, and a wealth of expertise to everyone under their care.
By sponsoring a nurse, you give the gift of time, allowing our nurses to focus on what truly matters, providing expert care, compassion and support. This precious time allows our nurses to uphold comfort and dignity for patients, creating precious, lasting memories with their loved ones. Here's how your monthly gift can make a difference: