Did you know that the majority of patients seen by Ardgowan Hospice are seen out in the community? Our Community Nursing team provides specialist palliative care to people across Inverclyde, helping to support patients and their families in the comfort of their own home.

Our Clinical Nurse Specialists are committed to ensuring that anyone in Inverclyde with life shortening conditions has the right to have the best care at the end of life, and they work closely with colleagues in the community to support them. We are here to help educate and advise on best practice when it comes to palliative care.

We sat down with some of our Community Nursing team to find out more about their roles;

Monica

Job Title: Palliative Nurse Consultant

Tell us more about your background?
“With 30 years of nursing experience, I have had the privilege of working in Sacramento, California, and Perth, Western Australia. My background includes over two decades in palliative care, beginning with my first role on the night shift at St. Vincent’s Hospice in Howwood before relocating abroad. After living in Australia for eight years, I returned to Scotland to serve as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in palliative care in Fife, gaining extensive experience across both acute hospital and community settings.”

What brought you to Ardgowan Hospice?
“For the past four years, I have been back home in Greenock, working at Ardgowan Hospice in the community, where I have led a fantastic team of Clinical Nurse Specialists. Additionally, I had the honour of becoming a Queen’s Nurse two years ago—a life-changing experience that stands as the pinnacle of my career. I chose to work at Ardgowan to return to my hometown and care for my own community. I am deeply passionate about palliative care—specifically equitable access—and believe everyone deserves the same quality of support, regardless of where they choose to spend their final days. That conviction is why I have championed education at Ardgowan, empowering our generalist colleagues in the community and care homes to provide excellent palliative care.”

What does your day-to-day look like at Ardgowan Hospice?
“At Ardgowan, no two days are the same. My role involves treating complex patients, supporting my CNS team, acting as the point of contact for our advice line, and participating in the on-call medical rota. A significant portion of my work is dedicated to education; I not only mentor and support specialist hospice nurses but also serve as a resource for health and social care professionals throughout the community as we work in close partnership with teams across Inverclyde.”

Shannon
Job Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist
Where you might see me: Port Glasgow Health Centre (Birkmyre, Newark, and Dr MacDonald & Mitchell), Port Glasgow Medical Centre, The New Surgery, Dorema Surgery and Ardgowan Medical Practice.

What inspired you to become a nurse?
“Nursing has always been something I felt passionate about, and throughout my career I’ve been motivated by supporting people through some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Before qualifying as a nurse in 2019, I worked in social care and as a healthcare assistant, roles that helped shape my empathy, resilience, and approach to patient care.”

How did you transition from your previous role into working with Ardgowan Hospice?
“Working through the COVID-19 pandemic strengthened my passion for palliative and end-of-life care, as I supported many patients and families during incredibly difficult times. Following COVID-19 I went on to gain experience in general medicine and cardiology before joining Ardgowan Hospice in 2024.”

What is your current role and responsibilities?
“I now work as a Clinical Nurse Specialist within the community team. In this role, I support patients with complex palliative and end-of-life care needs in their own homes, helping to manage symptoms, provide emotional support, and ensure care is tailored to what matters most to each individual and their family. I work closely with the wider multidisciplinary team to coordinate care, advocate for patients, and support future care planning during some of the most challenging stages of illness.”

What do you find the most rewarding about your role?
“The role has strengthened my knowledge, communication skills, and ability to provide compassionate, holistic care, and it is a privilege to be part of a team that can make such a meaningful difference to people’s lives.”

Lauren

Job Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist
Where you might see me: Greenock Health Centre (Lochview, Hogan & Allen and Cochrane)

How did your career lead you to palliative care?
“Before nursing, I obtained an honours degree in English, Journalism and Creative Writing – the plan was to become a teacher or a journalist, but that didn’t work out! I graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Adult Nursing before undertaking Non-Medical Prescribing and Advanced Clinical Assessment and Decision-Making at a Master’s level. After graduating in 2015, I worked at a unit for people living with advanced Dementia. I became Clinical Lead there and Acting House Manager during COVID.”

What brought you to Ardgowan Hospice?
“I chose Ardgowan Hospice for my elective placement as a 3rd year student. I loved it so much that I knew that I always wanted to return. I was a palliative care champion in my previous role, as I have always had a passion for providing high-quality palliative care. I love Ardgowan because they have previously supported my mum and my late gran in various ways when they had cancer, for example, the transport service, counselling and advice. The support they received took the pressure off of us as a family at an already incredibly stressful and scary time. Ardgowan is such a vital service in Inverclyde, and I want to make sure I am contributing to the service in a way that helps others at the hardest times of their lives.”

What does a typical day look like for you?
“In a typical day, I will be out visiting patients and their families at home, providing advice over the telephone and collaborating with my colleagues in the office. As a prescriber, I can review and change medications as required to ensure that symptoms are managed quickly and efficiently in the patient’s home. The community team works closely with our colleagues in primary care and the hospital in order to ensure our patients receive robust support. I am also about to commence Workbased Advanced Skills and Innovative Practice at Master’s Level, which, once completed in December, will give me a Master’s level postgraduate certificate as a Clinical Nurse Specialist.”

Lynsey

Job Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist
Where you might see me: Gourock Medical Practice, Station View Practice, Roxburgh Practice and The Surgery

What is your role within the Community Team?
“I am a Clinical Nurse Specialist. I am a Registered Nurse with a BSc in Adult Nursing and over 12 years of nursing experience in nursing homes, hospice care and community palliative care.”

What brought you to Ardgowan Hospice?
“I joined Ardgowan after working in a care home for over seven years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I realised that I wanted to move into palliative care, as I felt this would allow me to provide high-quality, person-centred care to individuals at the end of their lives. I wanted to be able to spend meaningful time with patients and their families, ensuring that their physical, emotional and personal needs were supported with dignity, compassion and respect.”

What does a typical day look like for you?
“In my current role as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Community Palliative Care, I manage my own caseload across four GP practices. I work autonomously to assess patients, triage referrals, provide telephone advice, manage symptoms, and respond to changes in patients’ conditions. I work closely with GPs, district nurses and other healthcare professionals to make sure patients receive the right care.”

Ellen

Job Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist
Where you might see me: Greenock Health Centre ( Lochview, Hogan & Allen and Cochrane)

What led you to working in Palliative Care?
“I first qualified as a Registered General Nurse before furthering to a Bachelor of Science with a postgraduate degree in Cancer and Palliative Care. For 17 years, I worked in Inverclyde Royal Hospital’s Surgical Directorate before joining the hospice as a Staff Nurse in 2004. Over the years, I was promoted to a Ward Sister, then a Ward Manager, before transferring to the Community team in 2023.

What does a typical day look like for you?
“A typical shift sees me driving between patients’ homes to manage complex symptoms, provide emotional support, and coordinate care with local healthcare teams. Also, we attend meetings at both GP Surgeries and Inverclyde Royal Hospital with other members of the multidisciplinary team. Alongside these daily tasks, we often provide education to staff within the hospice and outside agencies, i.e. nursing homes.”

Why did you choose to work for Ardgowan Hospice?
“I chose to work in the hospice; it’s a rewarding career. I feel privileged to help patients and families who have life-limiting diseases. You get to meet their families & pets, and have the opportunity to share so many precious moments and listen to family memories. Being able to care for people in their own homes lets patients stay comfortable, surrounded by loved ones. Helping families talk openly about dying removes fear and brings great relief; it relieves the stigma about hospice care.”

If you would like to learn more about the Community Team at Ardgowan Hospice and/or could benefit from their expertise, please contact info@ardgowanhospice.co.uk or call 01475 726830.