Claire Anderson – Community Palliative Care Nurse Specialist 

Annually, St Elizabeth Hospice cares for more than 4,000 patients and their families throughout East & Mid Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

This care sees the independent Suffolk charity providing free services – whenever and wherever it is needed, whether at home, in the community or at the hospice – to those living with a progressive or life-limiting illness.

One member of the hospice’s clinical team is Claire Anderson, who is a Palliative Care Nurse Specialist in the charity’s Community Caseload Team but also Claire works reactively on its 24/7 advice line, OneCall.

“St Elizabeth Hospice has become a huge part of my life over the past 17 years. I’m incredibly proud of the whole team and the difference we make to people’s lives in our local community,” said Claire, who has worked for the hospice since 2009.

“Originally from Birmingham, I moved to Suffolk to be with my husband 20 years ago. I had always worked in care until joining the hospice, where I was drawn to the opportunity to work in palliative care, which had always been a passion of mine.

“I joined the hospice when I was 21, as a healthcare assistant on the Inpatient Unit and have continued to develop my career at the hospice, progressing to Assistant Practitioner, after completing a Foundation Degree at University Campus Suffolk while working.

“Two years later, I became the hospice’s first apprentice through its ‘Grow Your Own’ scheme, completing a two-year nursing apprenticeship and gaining a further degree to become a registered nurse. This gave me the opportunity to develop my clinical skills while continuing to work at the hospice.

“In 2024, I joined our Community Team as a Registered Nurse. After gaining experience in community nursing, I went on to develop into my current role as a Palliative Care Nurse Specialist, which I am extremely proud of.

“What I love about St Elizabeth Hospice is that our teams communicate and work so well together, always with the patient and their family at the heart of what we do.

“We are united by a shared goal of delivering compassionate, person-centered care to everyone we support, whilst also taking care of each other.

“It’s a privilege to support patients and their families during such a vulnerable time in their lives. Being trusted by patients to build a relationship with them and support them through their journey is very special.

“There can be incredibly tough times, but the good moments and knowing you can make a difference make the role incredibly special. Sometimes, it can be as simple as just listening, as well as providing specialist medical support.

“Working in people’s homes means being respectful of their environment and adapting to each individual family.”

“Over time, you can become part of their lives as they share their journey with you. You might meet their children or pets, and it’s important to adapt to their home and circumstances to build trust.

“We’re there to help in whatever way we can, but patients and their families help us understand what they need. Being flexible and tailoring our care to each person is a really important part of the role.

“Every day is different. On caseload days, we review new referrals, triage patients, complete our planned visits and make follow-up calls, while OneCall keeps us updated on patients needing more urgent support in the community.

“We meet at 9am and again at 4pm with the Community Team and a consultant. These meetings give us the opportunity to share knowledge, discuss patient care and support each other.

“During reactive shifts, we respond to calls from patients, families and healthcare professionals throughout the day, prioritising those needing urgent support.

“We work closely with GPs, paramedics, NHS community teams and hospitals, sharing our specialist palliative care expertise.

“Each day presents the opportunity to provide compassionate care to patients and their families. Knowing I can make a difference at such an important time in someone’s life is what motivates me every day.

“The word ‘hospice’ can be daunting, but we’re a warm, caring and welcoming team. We understand that first call to or from the hospice can feel difficult, but we are here to help. We want to support you and your loved ones to live as well as possible.

“Without the generosity of our local community, we couldn’t provide the care we do. We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive.

“Without the hospice, many people could face one of life’s most difficult times alone or in a setting not of their choosing. Our care helps ensure people have dignity, choice and the support they need when it matters most.”