But the more we go, the more of a relationship we build, and the more relaxed the patient and the family become.

The first time I go to see someone, they are usually a bit wary and I can see that on people’s faces. We’re aware, as Hospice in the Home nurses, that people are scared, people are frightened by the name of our job title, coming from the Hospice. They think that means they're going to die there and then. They’re unsure of what we're going to speak about. It seems quite frightening, quite daunting, but actually the more I go, the more of a relationship I build, the better that relationship is and the more relaxed the patient and the family get.

With some people I get a really good rapport, with some people they just don't want to, and that's equally fine. Some people just don’t want to because there's the acceptance of what's wrong with them, because actually we are a reminder that they have an illness that they don't want to have and so when we go round there as a Hospice nurse it's another reminder that again, they've got to talk about it and talking about it makes it feel more real. It's the reality of it and that is what people struggle with.

Sometimes when I need a break and it all just gets a bit too much, I go down to the sea front and just take five minutes to sit and gather my thoughts and then move on again.

Emma Mazerolle, clinical nurse specialist