Tamara Wright, Clinical Senior Sister Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust - 6 July 2026

It has been 3 years since I transitioned from the ward to working with Hospital at Home. I spent 9 years working on the same ward. I enjoyed my job and I liked my team, but I started to feel stuck, and I was becoming unmotivated. As a result, I began looking at different roles in nursing and when an internal position became available within the HAHT, I applied and was successful in my application. I was nervous about joining a new team and was a little apprehensive about the areas where my skills and knowledge were lacking. Despite this, I was still very excited about this new phase in my career and looked forward to gaining new skills and increasing my knowledge. I felt right at home from the very beginning, and soon it started to feel like I had always been a part of the team. Three years in and I can honestly say that it was one of the best decisions I have made. My motivation has returned, and I look forward to going to work.

I have regained that personal satisfaction I once felt, in knowing that I am making a difference with the care I provided. I now see the whole person and not just someone with a health care need. Providing care and treatment to patients in their usual residence has allowed me to take a more holistic approach to the care I provide. I am better equipped to apply my professional judgment, skills and knowledge to support patients based on their individual circumstances and needs. The NMC code requires us to treat patients holistically, but I do not believe that this is always possible within the hospital environment. Patients have expressed to me that they feel more involved in their treatment and the majority of our patients have stated that they feel better receiving treatment at home. This is also evident in how they respond to treatment.

When I first started, I loved that the team was small, consisting only of nursing and therapy staff. This is no longer the case. Since 2022, the team has undergone significant changes. The patient capacity has increased considerably, leading to the subsequent increase in staffing. Although I liked the old team, the changes have made a vast difference to the way we operate. Other members of the multidisciplinary team that have joined the HAH, includes, a consultant, a registrar, a dietitian and pharmacist, a pharmacy technician and a therapy assistant. Despite these changes, we are still a close-knit team, and I am still enjoying my role within the team. I believe that the service we provide is beneficial to patients, their relatives, our Trust and the NHS on a whole. I am confident that Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust HAHT will continue to grow from strength to strength.