“Each day I ask ‘what matters to you today?’ and I’ll try my best to help patients to achieve this.”

I’d never really been to hospital before until my Nan took unwell and was admitted. I was visiting her, and I remember she was a bit unsure, and didn’t like being around different patients. She was suffering with delirium and was seeing a cat under her bed and things, and I remember thinking “I wonder if I could get involved in this and try and help people that are feeling the same way as her.” I wanted to try and make a difference if I could.

That was the catalyst for me looking into healthcare. When I first started, I was surprised how busy it was as I hadn’t really been in this environment before. The nurse call buzzers were going off and I was trying to get to the buzzer as soon as it was being pressed. It really is a physically tough job being on the wards.

I then started noticing the differences I was beginning to make. In the afternoons visitors would arrive to visit patients, and our job was a little less task oriented. I noticed some patients did not have anyone visiting and I would initially try to pop into the rooms of those who didn’t and just try to break up their day and make them smile. I knew a wee bit of magic and thought it might be a good ice breaker and hopefully brighten their day. I really got such a good reaction to the magic and was even told “oh, it really made a big difference to me with you coming in.” That really impacted on me wanting to help the quality of their stay.

I started showing the patients in the side rooms some of my tricks, and then staff started asking “can we see?”. The staff would encourage me to go and show patients in the bays. It just ended up kind of getting arms and legs! I remember thinking “the patients are reacting to this!”. They would even ask me to show their family members, grandkids, and so on.

Unfortunately, some of the wards do not have any TVs, and it can be a long day without home comforts, and that can be a strain for the patients. I was just trying to pick people up, giving them a break from the four walls and the medical terms.

Because of the reaction I had, I started learning a wee bit more magic, as it was helping break up the patient’s day. From that, I reached out to a local professional magician, who sat with me and then even invited me into the Magic Circle and now it’s a bit of a passion.

I also play music for patients, but only if they are happy for it. When I first meet a patient, I like to get to know them and what their interests and hobbies are. I feel music can assist patients in so many ways, for example if they get confused or delirious, we could play sentimental songs that may help ground them. I feel it really can help lift patients’ morale, whether it be motivating, relaxing or even just for a bit of fun.

I always try to keep things light by asking “Do you want some tunes on? Who do you like listening to? Would you like to request anyone?”.

One patient loved Donny Osmond, so we would play his songs to try and motivate her. During her physiotherapy she was learning to walk again, and at times her head was down affecting her posture. Due to the patient taking an eye to Donny throughout his career we had three different generations of Donny printed out and put up on the wall to help keep her head up, “eyes on Donny”. It helped to focus on her technique, but it was also fun. I really feel it helped with her progress and mood.

Each day I ask, “what matters to you today?” and I’ll try my best to help the patient achieve this. It can be something as simple as wanting a shower, to getting off the ward for a short time. We’ve even taken a patient off the ward to see their dog before. The idea is to try and assist the patient to getting towards that front door and back home as soon as their ready.

It always nice to involve family and to help give them the confidence that we are doing our best for their loved one. It’s such a privilege to be on this journey with patients and to think you may have had a positive impact and memory at a difficult time.

I really love my job, though it doesn’t feel like a job. I honestly feel honoured to assist where I can.

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This story has been shared in connection with the ALLIANCE’s ‘Stories of Caring, A Concert for Caring Special’ showcasing the different experiences of care and caring in Scotland.

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