Cancer care
It’s a hectic day for the nurses of the Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends
Adult cancer patients in Cyprus are offered nursing care in their homes by the Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends (Pasykaf), which offers a similar service to the Macmillan nurses in the UK.
Work for the nurses officially starts at 8 am and ends at 2.30pm. A telephone On Call service is provided through the day until 6pm and also a limited service is available on weekends and public holidays.
However, Jo Christodoulou has to leave her house early to take a patient’s blood sample and deliver it by 8am. Juggling her child’s needs and the demands of work is an unwritten part of the job description.
When Jo arrives at the office, there are other patients waiting for the nurse to arrive, needing to undergo a nursing procedure, be given advice or collect medications. Once the immediate needs have been seen to, Jo and her colleagues head to the kitchen to make a much needed milky coffee.
“Coffee time is very much a time for communicating with the other nurses and other members of the team, such as the physiotherapist, social worker and psychologist,” said Jo. Much debriefing and mutual support takes place in an informal manner, as does sharing of information about patients and planning the day ahead. Although much effort is made regarding planning the workload, the day is fast moving and unpredictable.
By 9.30 am, it is usually time to set off. Cars will be loaded with equipment, such as special mattress to prevent bed sores, a commode or possibly a heavy oxygen cylinder. Medical supplies must be stocked up in the car as visits to far away villages involve anticipating unexpected needs. Before driving off, Jo is called from her car to talk to a man who has come to seek support and discuss care for his wife. Despite being unplanned, he is given the time of day.
The diversity of the patient and family situations makes each day both challenging and rewarding. Jo may be visiting a palatial mansion or a crumbling old village house without hot running water. The first patient has advanced cancer. Following a thorough assessment of their pain and a phone-call to the consultant oncologist, the treatment regime is agreed and the patient and his wife have to be given clear advice and instructions on how to control backache. The introduction of strong pain medication causes some anxiety. “Time and patience is required in order to alleviate any concerns and reassure them both that this is an effective and safe treatment to improve his quality of life,” said Jo who will plan to visit again in two days time. They are assured that they can make a phone call to the nurse earlier if they need to. This visit bridged a gap of 90kms as the oncologist is based in Nicosia.
The next patient has a wound from being in bed for a long period, daily dressings are needed. Moving on, it must be time for a quick cup of tea. While popping in to administer a simple injection Jo always gets offered a hot cuppa. However, today the patient’s daughter wanted a chat, the quick cuppa took 45 minutes. It was a productive visit but time is now short and still one more visit to make.
The drive up to the village for the next appointment is calming as there is such beautiful scenery. This is a final visit to a gentleman who has recovered well from his cancer treatment and doesn’t need to receive further nursing care. “We reassure the patient that if he should ever need anything he only has to give us a call,” said Jo.
Back down to town, the midday traffic is building up. The morning will end at the office before it is time to collect the kids…
“Today the phone did not ring during On Call hours in the afternoon and I switched it off at 6pm. Phew! Now it’s time to relax with a good book and a glass of wine…” Jo said.
The Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends. Tel: 22 345444, 25 747750, 24 665198, Paphos 26 952478, Paralimni 23 730460. www.cancercare.org.cy
Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends
Page 1
