A reflection of a 20-year career at St Catherine’s Hospice

Joining the hospice in September 2003 and due to retire at the end of March 2024, our Director of Nursing, Governance & Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) Jimmy Brash, reflects on his two decades at the hospice.

Tell us about your background and career, before joining the hospice

I commenced nurse training at the age of 29 in my home city of Liverpool. I worked in hospital, community and hospice prior to my appointment as Macmillan nurse working across Chorley and Royal Preston hospitals for five years. Throughout this time, I was in regular contact with the hospice.

I started at St Catherine’s Hospice in September 2003, at a time when new regulatory processes were being brought in, closely followed by the introduction of Caldicott Guardians. Taking a positive approach to embracing and implementing these statutory changes helped the team to feel encouraged and empowered to have conversations with inspectors, as opposed to feeling fearful or wary of them. Reassuring staff to value the inspection process and to have a positive and open mindset, reframed governance and inspections as an opportunity to demonstrate our excellent work and care. I always felt that staff and volunteers should be proud of the excellent work they do and see inspections as an opportunity to celebrate their achievements. Inspections are a healthy part of care, and any weaknesses can present as opportunities to improve our services.

Twenty years is a long time! What changes have you seen over the years?

Back in 2003, local palliative care focused on patients with cancer and motor neurone disease. We gradually extended our reach to include patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure, and now we seek to support people with a wide range of conditions.

We’ve strengthened working in the locality. I maintained and built on the close relationships I had from working in both local hospitals, as well as linking in with commissioners, the Primary Care Trust (PCT), later to be known as Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and now the Integrated Care Board (ICB). I’ve found relationship building really enjoyable.

I’ve seen services grow, develop and become more and more inclusive. So many people I work with – Trustees, fellow Directors, clinical and non-clinical staff and volunteers – care so very much about helping as many people as possible. When you work in a hospice, you work with a team who all want to their best for all patients and their families or loved ones.

At our quarterly induction sessions for new staff and volunteers, I always do a slot on hospice care and services. It’s a pleasure and privilege for me to meet with and speak to new Shop Managers, Lottery Collectors, Mill staff (to name a few) and our huge range of volunteers, as I can so clearly see how they really get and understand what the hospice is about. Regardless of their role, new staff and volunteers are all working together with one thing in mind – to help patients and their loved ones. It’s been a joy to work as part of this whole-organisation approach to patient care.

Throughout my twenty years at the hospice, things have kept changing. I’ve constantly had to change and adapt and that’s why I’ve stayed so long. The hospice team continues to provide fantastic care, and I’m proud to be part of that care and support. It’s been a pleasure to be involved in such a great and meaningful team effort.

What have been some of your career highlights?

Seeing more patients with non-malignant disease being seen in the community and IPU.

Establishing the importance of regulations and governance and getting the hospice to welcome and embrace regulatory processes.

Providing individualised, personalised care. We can provide flexible, holistic spiritual and physical care to any patient from any background, faith or religious beliefs, or no beliefs.

What are your plans for retirement and the future?

I love to travel and I’m planning to visit South America later this year. I love photography and would like to enhance and develop my skills. I can speak and read a tiny bit of Greek and will develop that further. Last, but not least, I’m hoping to volunteer with Lancashire Constabulary as a Special Constable. Lancashire has been my home for the last 25 years and I am keen to contribute to it being the great place it is.

Finally, what are the most common myths you’ve come across of hospice care?

Myth 1: we only take people with cancer.
Reality: we help a wide range of patients with multiple conditions, including COPD, MND, heart and renal failure – as well as cancer.

Myth 2: we are a religious organisation so only care for certain faiths.
Reality: we help all people of all faiths, and of no faith. Our care is truly individualised to a person’s needs.

Myth 3: people only come here to die.
Reality: we support many with symptom management and enable them to return home or a care or nursing home.

Myth 4: we only offer inpatient care.
Reality: our broad care and support includes the clinical nursing team supporting people and their loved ones in their homes, nursing and care homes, volunteer befrienders, bereavement support, support for carers and compassionate communities training in the community.

• You can meet our new Director of Nursing, Tracy Earley, here. 

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