Catherine Rodwell – Community Clinical Nurse Specialist in Great Yarmouth & Waveney
Since launching in April 2019, more than 7,000 patients and their families in Great Yarmouth and Waveney have been supported by the free specialist palliative care provided by the joint partnership of St Elizabeth Hospice and East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH).
Typically living with conditions such as cancer, heart failure, chronic lung diseases – such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – and neurological disorders, these patients have received free care through the partnership’s varied, specialist palliative care provision available at Beccles Hospital, in the community and through the service’s 24-hour advice line, OneCall.
One member of the hospice team in Great Yarmouth and Waveney is Catherine Rodwell, who is a Community Clinical Nurse Specialist and has been a part of the team since January 2026.
“I always wanted to work in palliative care following the death of my Nanny when I was a child,” explained Catherine.
“At the time, Nanny and my family were keen for her to access hospice care, but unfortunately this wasn’t available where she lived.
“That gap in service provision inspired my passion for hospice care. I also come from a family of nurses, so I knew from a young age that working in healthcare was something I’d be interested in.
“Being able to help meet the need for end-of-life care in my local community is a big motivation for me to work for St Elizabeth Hospice, particularly with their plans to build a new hospice in Gorleston.
“My training saw me study at University of East Anglia, where I graduated in 2018. After this I worked on the Emergency Admission and Discharge Unit at James Paget University Hospital for 18 months, before my now husband got a job in Cheltenham.
“We moved there for just under a year, where I worked as a bank nurse across urology, breast, high dependency and frailty. When Covid-19 hit, I then worked in Intensive Care at James Paget University Hospital before joining the hospice in 2026.
“When I saw a job become available at St Elizabeth Hospice, I knew I had to apply, and here I am, still really enjoying it.
“It can be extremely difficult for patients and their families to come to terms with a diagnosis and prognosis. Being able to offer advice and help patients is a real privilege, especially when it’s something that’s important to them.
“Our whole team is dedicated to providing compassionate care to patients and their families, when it matters most and its brilliant to be part of a team which has such a clear goal.
“Every day is different, but a typical day sees the team have a morning meeting, at 9am, to discuss the day ahead and anything we need to be aware of. From around 9.30am to 4pm, I see patients through home visits, telephone consultations and clinics, depending on their individual needs.
“At 4pm, we have a team check-in to make sure everyone is safe and see if anyone needs support. It’s really nice because you feel supported by your colleagues.
“There are lots of misconceptions around hospices and the care we provide. People often assume they are sad places to be and that we only provide end-of-life care, but that isn’t the case.
“Our services help people live as comfortably as possible, whether that’s at home or on our Inpatient Unit, with care tailored to their individual needs.
“As a team, in Great Yarmouth and Waveney, we’re so excited about the building of St Elizabeth Hospice, Gorleston. Having a purpose-built hospice to meet the needs of the local community will be incredible and will increase our ability to support more people who need our vital care, during life’s most uncertain times.
“From speaking with patients and their families, I know that having a hospice in their local area would ease a lot of anxiety and make a real difference to them.
“This is why it’s so important that our local community continues to support us, whether through fundraising, donating or volunteering. Every pound raised and every hour volunteered helps us deliver our care and expand our services, so we can support more people when it matters most.”