"It's definitely a calling to work in hospice care"

As we mark the 45^th anniversary of the Hospice in 2026 it felt appropriate to catch up with our longest serving member of staff April, who has been at Strathcarron for 33 years!

April qualified as a nurse in 1993.  She was working in the bone marrow unit of Glasgow Royal Infirmary when a colleague told her that Strathcarron Hospice was advertising for nurses.

Only four months into her nursing career she went for an interview that would determine her career trajectory and shape her life.

April said: “When I arrived for my interview at Strathcarron, I thought what a wonderful place!

“As I was so newly qualified I didn’t think they would give me the job. I was delighted when I got the call to say they were offering me it.

“I had been involved with a lot of cancer patients in my training and had worked at Marie Curie Huntershill, so I was leaning towards wanting to work in that sector of care anyway – I knew it was for me.

“You know pretty quickly in your nursing training placements if places like Accident and Emergency are what you enjoy. The more I worked with palliative and end of life patients, the clearer it was to me that it’s what I wanted to do.

 “It was never my intention to be here as long at the Hospice, but once I arrived, I felt really at home here. It is definitely a calling to work in hospice care. I think some people are just born to do it.”

During April’s time she has seen a number of extensions added to the building, expanding from the original 12 beds to 24. During that period the Hospice has also become a centre of excellence & knowledge, increased the number of departments including Hospice at Home and Lymphoedema, and with that the number of staff has increased. She also added to her own family in that time, welcoming her two children.

April added: “When I look back at how things were when I first joined, it’s so different in terms of the sheer size of the Hospice and the services we offer. Molly Parsons went round gifting everyone wee snowdrops and we were still wearing the starched white uniforms with our aprons.

“Our staff are accessing further education and courses to increase practice, learning and always improving our knowledge in the sector.

“I was able to benefit from this and completed my graduate certificate and professional studies, and also beauty and massage training to allow me to join the Complementary Therapies Team.

“Up to 2006 there were no complementary therapies offered. The Molly Parsons Scholarship commissioned Clinical Nurse Specialist Jenny Gilbert to do two pilot studies into the various practices and how they could benefit patients – Jenny did a brilliant job of the pilot, and in 2008 Betty McGrory and I joined Jenny as part of the increased Complementary Therapies Team.

“Betty and Jenny had an incredible range of nursing experience between them and we all just wanted to make the patient experience as positive as we could for each and every one of them.

“We worked with the patients on the inpatient unit and in Daycare. There was always a huge uptake for our services. You would get the odd older man who was reluctant at first and then they realised the benefits when they heard the other male patients talking about it.

“One of the things I loved doing was helping organise a spa experience and afternoon tea for one of our patients and her daughter. They had a lovely afternoon together and it was something quite special to be able to do that for them and sharing with them making those memories together.

“What we do makes a huge difference to people.

“Healthcare staff do what’s described as functional touch – medical care that needs to be done. When a patient gives us permission to touch and help them relax, that puts them in the position of control of the pressure applied and areas of touch.”

As part of Strathcarron’s 45^th anniversary year, April has worked with Rachel at local candle company Scents of the Wild to collaborate on a special fundraising product for the Hospice.

April suggested the most popular oil scents selected by patients and Rachel put the blend together, creating a unique hand poured candle - The Strathcarron scent ‘Solace’.

The candle went on sale at the Strathcarron Let’s Lunch event in May with the first round of pre-ordering selling out on the day.

April said: “It’s been lovely to create this collaboration together and mark 45 years of Strathcarron in this way, sharing the work that our complementary therapies team do and taking that into people’s homes for them to share a part of Strathcarron’s special year.

“I have done various fundraising for the Hospice over the years – like the West Highland Way, abseil off the Forth Rail Bridge, walked Ben Nevis – this is another legacy to leave to help the work we do. I love that Fundraising create these incredible challenges which also raise much needed funds.”

April & colleagues before their West Highland Way walk 

Working in a Hospice does of course have its challenges, and April says it can be incredibly tough at times. There were also the challenges of the COVID pandemic to navigate when they were unable to help support patients with their therapies as they would have liked.

She added: “In my first year at the Hospice, I was trying to go to everyone’s funerals and absorbing it all and was getting really upset. There is a certain level of barrier you have to develop as a nurse working in a Hospice, this is a job where you have a high level of compassion and empathy, but you also have to learn to develop where that boundary is for you, otherwise it can take a toll on you emotionally.

“There is no higher privilege than being that person who is there for someone and supporting and caring for them when they leave this life -  to hold someone’s hand as they die, when they don’t have family or the family hasn’t been able to get there in time.

“It’s not for everyone. You have to learn how to manage it.

“I’m lucky to have a career that is this long which I enjoy. I never imagined I would be here all this time but I can’t imagine doing anything else. The grounds are stunning there is something really special about Strathcarron.  

“There was a large tree that had to be taken down recently in the garden as it was diseased and I reflected on that and my time here, as I have watched it grow and change over the years. When my mum and dad died I would go out and have some time and my thoughts there under it. I was sad when it had to be removed – reflective of life here at the Hospice, the passing of time and nature.

“We are seeing an increase in younger people in the Hospice and it does make you appreciate every day working in this job. You reflect on your own life and what matters to you, and making the most of the time you have.

“I’m proud to be part of Strathcarron and have always felt like this.

“There have been so many incredible moments over the last three decades. To do the job I love is a real privilege – and to be able to have my children grow to understand how important our Hospices are and continue a career through them growing up is very special indeed. They are our future.

“We have some very strong, very knowledgeable women here currently who are striving to educate and improve what we do and I believe that is something the Hospice should be proud of.

“Always growing always evolving.”

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Find out how you can  Celebrate 45 Years of Strathcarron Hospice