Tomas Fowles – Community Clinical 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 Tomas Fowles, who is a clinical nurse specialist in the charity’s community team which also sees him work on our 24/7 advice phone line, OneCall.

“Supporting patients and their families during this time is very precious. Our team has one opportunity to provide the care and dignity they deserve, which drives my daily work at the hospice,” said Tomas, who joined the team in April 2022, as a registered nurse on the hospice’s Inpatient Unit.

“After a year working on the Inpatient Unit, I had the opportunity to join the community team as a registered nurse – a decision I have not regretted. Since then, I have been promoted to the role of clinical nurse specialist, which has allowed me to further enhance my knowledge and skills.

“Growing up, I always had an interest in health and social care as a potential career path. This was confirmed when, at the age of 20, I began working as a porter in Accident and Emergency at Southend Hospital.

“This role provided me with invaluable insight into the healthcare field, and I quickly realised it was the right career for me. I went on to study adult nursing at the University of Suffolk, during which I completed placements at Ipswich Hospital and in the community. These experiences cemented my passion for supporting patients and providing reassurance during challenging times.

“They also laid the foundation for my work at the hospice, where I support individuals with life-limiting conditions – a role that motivates me every day.

“As a clinical nurse specialist, my role is to assess and plan palliative care for patients who wish to receive support in the community – this can be in their homes, nursing homes, care homes, sheltered accommodation and in community hospitals.

“A typical day sees me assess patients following a referral from their place of care, from their family or a patient may have self-referred. I will then work with them to plan how best to meet their wishes.

“For example, patients often wish to receive care at home because it offers comfort being in their own environment. From my experience, home care also empowers individuals by allowing them more control over their situation compared to a clinical setting.

“To achieve patients’ wishes to receive care at home, myself and my colleagues will visit them in the community to provide support, such as symptom management and medication administration.

“This can also include more personal care, like assisting with washing, answering questions from their family, or coordinating with our wider hospice team to arrange support from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and emotional wellbeing services.

“As well as this, I take calls and offer guidance through our 24/7 phone line, OneCall – an invaluable service provided by St Elizabeth Hospice. My role on OneCall involves liaising with patients, families, carers, or healthcare providers to address their queries and concerns.

“Whether it’s a patient experiencing a new symptom, a family member worried about a loved one’s condition, or a healthcare professional seeking advice on medications, our dedicated team of care coordinators and nurses is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year via OneCall.

“Being able to speak to an experienced palliative care specialist in a moment of need provides crucial reassurance and support to those who rely on this service.

“Throughout all our work, we aim to empower patients and their loved ones, helping them achieve the best quality of life possible in the time they have remaining.

“Each day is unique – every patient an individual, and each OneCall call presents a new opportunity to help. Often, it’s the small actions that have the greatest impact to somebody’s life, when support matters most.

“Whether it is online, in-person or via OneCall, our team is here to help you and your loved one have the highest quality of care.”