For nearly 30 years Linda Laisure has been a familiar face to staff, patients, families and visitors at St Elizabeth Hospice.
Joining the hospice in 1991, as a bank Enrolled Nurse, before becoming a full-time member of the team in 1992, she has worked in a number of roles throughout the independent charity as part of a career she describes as her “dream”.
“When we were asked at school what we wanted to be when we grew up, I instinctively knew I wanted to be a nurse and that was always my dream,” explained Linda.
“I always wanted to be a nurse so went straight from pre-nursing school into nurse training at Ipswich Hospital. As a student nurse I cared for many patients but two, in particular, remained in my mind from my training and have done throughout my career.
“They were both palliative care patients, both were told very badly about their illness, as were their loved ones and I knew there had to be a better way to communicate and care for people and their families at such a difficult time.
“So when I learnt there were opportunities to join St Elizabeth Hospice I had no hesitation and I could tell straight away that the hospice held similar values as I did and I haven’t looked back since joining.”
From working for the hospice’s day services, and becoming a team leader for that department, through to working as a nurse leader and being inpatient unit ward manager, Linda has carried out a diverse range of roles at the hospice before starting her current job of Head of Quality and Governance in 2015.
A job, which on a typical day, sees Linda prepare audits and reports for patient care, working with colleagues across the hospice in all aspects of patient care and meeting requirements for the Care Quality Commission.
“I really enjoy providing the holistic care that comes with working for the hospice. Taking care of a person and their family has always been important to me and it is such a privilege to do,” she said.
“Where else in nursing would you have the opportunity to arrange a wedding, cuddle a baby, be part of a family celebration, pet someone’s much loved dog, see patients out in the garden in the sun in their beds with family around them? Every day is different and brings with it new challenges and experiences to share and enjoy!”
Born in Ipswich, Linda has been married to her husband Don for forty years and they have two adult children together. While outside of hospice life, Linda enjoys spending time with her family and friends, walking her dog Angus, visiting National Trust and English Heritage sites and watching American Football.
As well as having a passion for providing support to patients and families during difficult times in their lives, Linda also has a personal connection to St Elizabeth Hospice.
She said: “I didn’t have a personal connection to the hospice when I first started, apart from being local and understanding the importance it had within the community.
“However, over the years I have had relatives and friends who have been cared for by the hospice, including my mum, who received care from the hospice’s community team two years ago, a very close friend last year and my much loved sister and colleague Glenis died in the hospice’s inpatient unit last August. She too had worked at St Elizabeth Hospice, working as part of the Emotional Wellbeing Team for 19 years.
“Since I joined the hospice, the team and our overall service has grown greatly, in order to further meet the needs of the communities we serve. It has changed a lot but the most important thing for me is the quality of care remains the main commitment and focus of the team.
“People often assume working at the hospice is dark, gloomy and sad, but this is not the case. We work with the living and help make a difference to people during very difficult times in their lives. It is a real privilege to be a part of an organisation that provides this special care and I have felt this same feeling ever since I joined.
“I have met and cared for some incredibly inspirational patients and families and worked alongside some very committed and caring colleagues, I have and still am very lucky to do so.”
“To work alongside a team who share the same commitment and values as each other, as well as the same humour, has been amazing to be a part of. In my current role I have close contact with all the teams across the hospice and as a result can fully appreciate how the whole jigsaw fits together and why the strength of our teamwork is so vital.”