Meet Catherine

How long have you worked at St Oswald’s Hospice?
I can’t quite believe I’ve worked for the hospice for over 9 years. It has never felt boring or stale, as I’ve had the opportunity to move between various roles. 

What was your volunteer role – and how long did you do this for?
I began as a volunteer receptionist’s assistant in the Outpatients department, working one day a week. After a year, I took on bank holiday and sickness cover for the receptionist. This role then grew into a job share covering maternity leave.  

When that ended, I transitioned to a voluntary role as the minute taker for the Lymphoedema MTD. Like many other voluntary roles, this came to an abrupt halt in March 2020 due to COVID-19. During the pandemic, I was asked to cover various administrative roles on a bank basis within the Outpatient department, including reception, appointments, and logistics. 

I was also a carer and advocate for my elderly mother, who was my priority. I needed the flexibility that bank and voluntary roles offered. When circumstances changed and I was able to commit to a more permanent position, I was taken on for a short-term contract in the logistics office due to the growing need for extra administrative hours. After 18 months of successive short-term contracts, the decision was made to make the role permanent. And here I am, after 9 years. 

What attracted you to the role?
I already had an understanding of the role and what both parts of the logistics office cover. I enjoy problem-solving, and I have the attention to detail required. I also have extensive experience in dealing with both patients and staff, which has been beneficial in this role. 

What does your role involve?
The logistics office has two separate but interlinked roles: 

1. Garment side – This involves ordering and processing made-to-measure lymphoedema garments prescribed by the clinical team. I work with a team of drivers to deliver many of these garments to our patients. 
2. Transport side – This involves not only delivering garments but also providing patient transport for the Adult Inpatient Service, Focus on Living Centre and palliative lymphoedema patients. We handle scripts, specimens for the ward, and any other requests that come from any department within the hospice. This could range from collecting equipment from home loan services to delivering water samples to Northumbrian Water Scientific Service Centre. 

On a daily basis, I order and process garment deliveries, work closely with our wonderful drivers to fulfil requests, and communicate with patients and staff to ensure we meet their needs. I am mindful of selecting the most suitable vehicle for each type of request. 

Could you describe hospice care in three words?
Individual, compassion and embrace. 

What would you say to someone worried about coming to the Hospice for care?
It is not what you think! We listen to what you and your family want, and whether your stay is long or short, we aim to meet your wishes. We treat you as an individual with compassion and dignity. Hospice care is about life, not death. 

What has been the most rewarding part of your experience at St Oswald’s Hospice?
Getting through COVID-19 – adapting virtually overnight but still being able to provide a service to our patients. It showed how strong and resilient our team is. 

Are there any particular projects or initiatives within the logistics team that you’ve been particularly proud of?
The logistics team was already well-established, so I just helped by plugging the gaps in the rota to provide uninterrupted coverage over the week. 

Anything else you’d like to add that I may have missed?
At 54, my work life has taken many unexpected turns. It’s a long way from college, where I learned how to make costumes for stage and screen. You never know where life will take you, but I’m glad I’ve ended up here. I work with wonderful colleagues in a supportive environment. St Oswald’s Hospice has given me the chance to develop and learn, and I am so glad I filled out that volunteer application form all those years ago.