This Wednesday is Advance Care Plan Day, so we're getting to know our two new Advanced Care Planning Facilitators, Helen Turner and Nicky Byrne.
Helen Turner
What is the role of an Advanced Care Planning Facilitator?
A person centred discussion around a person’s wishes, preferences and priorities for their future treatment and care.
Tell us a little about what you do
The Advanced Care Planning Facilitator is a role I job share with my lovely colleague Nicky. This role utilises my previous palliative care skills, empowering patients to think about what they would like their future care and treatment to look like, completing ReSPECT plans to convey their wishes and preferences to those involved in their care. My role also involves training and sharing my advanced clinical practice (ACP) knowledge with colleagues and working with external agencies to improve a patient’s care when they are discharged out of hospital into the community.
Can you tell us a little more about your career so far?
My background is in newspapers, working for the Huddersfield Daily Examiner for many years. When my youngest child left school I decided to follow my dream to become a nurse and completed my Adult Nursing degree at Huddersfield University as a mature student.
Since qualifying I have worked at The Kirkwood as a palliative nurse, but also worked in Endoscopy at HRI for a year. I can honestly say I have enjoyed all my roles and met some wonderful colleagues along the way.
I returned to CHFT in December 2023 to start my new dual role as an Advance Care Planning Facilitator and an Acute Specialist Frailty Nurse with the Frailty team at HRI. The Acute Specialist Frailty nurse role also utilises my palliative skills as this role involves a whole holistic approach to nursing a patient arriving in ED, SDEC or on the Acute Floor. This all makes for a very varied and rewarding job.
What is the highlight of your career so far?
Going to university as a mature student and qualifying as a BSc HONS Adult nurse aged 48.
Sum up your role in three words
Patient-centred care.
Who is your hero/heroine and why?
Dame Cicely Saunders. She founded the first modern hospice, establishing the discipline and culture of palliative care. She coined the term ‘total pain’ which highlights the complex nature of palliative pain to include physical, psychological, social and spiritual pain.
When you are not at work, how do you relax?
Walking, meeting up with friends and family, knitting and Wordle.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
I was at the last ever Sex Pistols gig on Christmas Day, back in 1977. They held a children’s party during the day, so I was there throwing cake around with Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious.
Nicky Byrne
What is the role of an Advanced Care Planning Facilitator?
To identify people who are in the last year of life and talk to them about their wishes going forward, what is important to them and what they want others to know.
Can you tell us a little more about your career so far?
I am an occupational therapist, qualifying in 1980. I have worked in a number of different areas including mental health, dementia and intermediate care. I have worked in palliative care for over 15 years, initially at CHFT as team leader for the Macmillan rehabilitation team then at a hospice in Ashton Under Lyne.
I re-joined CHFT in August 2023 as part of the Advance Care planning team alongside my colleague Helen.
What is the highlight of your career so far?
I have had many highlights, but most recently the day hospice model I developed was accepted as a case study on the NHS Atlas of Shared Learning as an example of innovative service development.
Sum up your role in three words
Important personal conversations.
Who is your hero/heroine and why?
Puk Pieterse, a Dutch multievent cyclist. She is constantly motivated to achieve in her given field but does it with fun.
When you are not at work, how do you relax?
Gardening, mountain biking, dog walking my three terriers, yoga and open water swimming.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
I am a keen mountain biker and entered my first competition at 60.