Suffolk hospice pays tribute to nurse leader for 35 years of service
Hospice staff have expressed their gratitude and appreciation for director of patient services, Verity Jolly, who is retiring after 35 years working for an independent Suffolk charity.
Ms Jolly has worked at St Elizabeth Hospice since the day the hospice first opened its doors in 1989, highlighted the charity.
“Verity’s determination to deliver compassionate and personalised care to every patient, supported by the hospice, underpins and informs all our services”
Judi Newman
Starting as a ward nurse, she progressed through each nursing leadership role, including clinical care manager before becoming director of patient services in April 2007, the hospice said.
She has helped many staff with their development, it noted, as well as leading on a number of service enhancements which have made a great difference to the lives of patients and their families.
These enhancements have included the creation of a virtual ward, palliative care co-ordination hub and a 24/7 phone line, which provides support to patients, families and healthcare professionals.
According to the hospice, the OneCall line was one of the first services of its kind in the UK and now receives 2,500-3,000 calls monthly.
Judi Newman, St Elizabeth Hospice chief executive, said: “Verity’s determination to deliver compassionate and personalised care to every patient, supported by the hospice, underpins and informs all our services.
“Much of her work has been recognised as nationally innovative over the years and her insights are well respected by many colleagues in the local and regional healthcare systems,” she said.
“Her continued drive to identify solutions to challenges and to find new opportunities for progression, has helped the hospice establish its special place in the hearts of so many in our local community, through our holistic care which touches the lives of so many people.”
She added: “We are so grateful to have had Verity as part of the hospice team and we wish Verity and her family all the best for the future, although we will all miss her greatly.”
Sue Tunaley, head of operations at St Elizabeth Hospice, said Ms Jolly had been a great mentor to herself and many other colleagues at the organisation.
“Verity has always been forward thinking in developing our services to provide more care for more patients and families, for example, she was crucial to the development and creation of our 24/7 helpline – OneCall,” she said.
“She is driven by her continued passion for the care that we provide and developing our services, to meet the needs of the community that we serve, and we can never thank her enough for her brilliant work and support.”
Verity Jolly (second from right) when Princess Anne officially opened the hospice in December 1989
