Monday 22 June 2015

I'm on the Isle of Wight. I've been here for four days and am learning from the inside about the way the film will unfold. It's a gradual process.

Most of my time has been spent going out on visits with community palliative care team. Thus far this has proved the most constructive way to introduce the project to hospice care patients. The team notify the patient of my likely visit either by phone - at which point hospice outpatients and/or their families can express approval or not - or at the door during home visits. In the case of the latter I don't come to the door until the individual has given approval to the visiting nurses. Approval has been given in all but one visit. I've built up a very good working rapport with the nurses.

I've attended some daycare sessions and events at the hospice and gently introduced the film project to users of day services and activities, most of whom come in from home once or twice a week for a half day or day, collected and dropped off by volunteer drivers.

I've also spent a lot of time hanging around in the nurse staff room. I've focused on becoming a known and familiar face to nurses on the ward, with a view to being introduced to inpatients and respite users down the line, perhaps initially for conversation (much as I would do as a volunteer) and then potentially leading to filming once discussion has taken place, trust has been established and consent given.

I'm also hoping that over time daycare service providers, the community team staff and ward team staff will mention the film to people they are working with who they may feel would be inclined to participate and would benefit from participation, effectively suggesting future meetings and conversations between hospice users and myself.

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