Katie Greig, 48, is taking over the leadership of the popular and busy lymphoedema service at the end of September following the retirement of Lynn Brooks.
“It’s a very exciting opportunity and I have extremely big shoes to fill after Lynn goes because she is amazing,” said Katie, who has been with the hospice for just over a year as a lymphoedema nurse therapist but who has had a quarter-of-century experience in nursing.
“What excites me about the role is the difference you can make for patients. Lymphoedema is a chronic progressive condition that presents itself as a swelling anywhere in the body but predominantly on a limb. It affects people both physically and psychologically, particularly with self-esteem and acceptance of the new normal.”
Katie, who was born and bred in Bucks and now lives near Chesham, added: “It’s about being able to give truly holistic specialist care to patients. Without us, many people in South Bucks would not be able to access any treatment and support. There are currently extremely limited NHS lymphoedema services in south Buckinghamshire.”
The South Bucks Hospice lymphoedema service currently supports around 230 patients. The charitable service treats patients suffering from damage of the lymphatic system as a result of cancer or cancer treatment. This could be from having lymph nodes removed or having areas of the body damaged by radiotherapy.
“I am looking to work more collaboratively with hospitals and to get the word out – a lot of people really don’t know about lymphoedema and don’t understand it. It really is under-recognised. However, with early intervention, we can help people who are suffering with it,” she said.
Katie first joined the NHS in 1994 as a healthcare assistant at Amersham Hospital after leaving school. After a brief career as a florist, she completed her nursing training in 1999 and then worked for a few years on the general surgical ward at Wycombe Hospital.
Her first taste of hospice care came in 2004 when she joined the local community palliative care team – offering end-of-life care to people in their homes.
“I found this really rewarding. You don’t go into fix people; you go there to make what time they have left as easy as possible by supporting them and their family and administering good symptom control – as well as giving them the permission to laugh and behave like normal,” she said.
Katie worked in this field until 2017, before entering the charity sector, going into schools to talk to children about the difficulties other youngsters experience when they have chronic or life-limiting conditions. This work changed when the Covid pandemic hit and she returned to the NHS, working on wards and in the children’s vaccine team.
“I was really keen then to get back into palliative care because that’s where my heart lies,” she said. “I saw the job in lymphoedema advertised for South Bucks Hospice, and it really appealed to me because it was in hospice care and was also a new speciality for me – while still providing long-term care and building relationships.”
The hospice provided Katie with extensive academic and practical on-the-job training.
“I am now a level 3 Vodder School manual lymphatic drainage therapist and am incredibly grateful to the hospice for the training provided and for sponsoring me through this.”
Katie trained at the hospice in High Wycombe under the guidance of Lynn Brooks, who headed up the service for eight-and-a-half years and who had almost 50 years’ experience in nursing. She also had the support of Frances Wallington, a senior lymphoedema therapist with 20 years' experience.
Lynn, 66, said: “I will be sad to leave my role but have loved my time here and feel very assured that the team will carry on and continue with the same professional, specialist service for patients under the leadership of Katie. I am very pleased that Katie will be leading the specialist lymphoedema service and taking it forward. She has a fantastic personality and embraces all that she has learnt and all that she is putting into practice.”
Katie added: “South Bucks Hospice is a wonderful place to work. There’s such a lovely feeling in the building and we have a great team with a variety of specialisms working together to improve people’s quality of life.”
South Bucks Hospice is now looking for a new lymphoedema nurse to replace Katie after her promotion. Applicants need a nursing background, preferably specialising in palliative care or cancer, but do not need any previous experience of lymphoedema because full training will be provided. The job details can be found at www.sbh.org.uk
