Anne Ridgwell

Anne Ridgwell, Healthcare Assistant at Your Healthcare, Kingston

“I commenced working for the NHS at Kingston Hospital in 1983 as a nursing auxiliary on the surgical ward.  I currently work for Your Healthcare as a Healthcare Assistant providing nursing care in the community through the twilight nursing service.  I also work part-time as a day care staff member for local independent charity Staywell, supporting older people with a range of needs, primarily keeping them mentally and physically well through a range of activities and services.

I enjoy being able to help people, through both my nursing skills and by supporting and caring for older people at the day centre, ensuring that they fill their day with fun and laughter.  Often I get to know people attending the day centre through my twilight duties in the community, so the relationship crosses over, and when this happens it helps to reassure and support clients during a medical situation.  I feel that the care that I provide across both roles is complementary and offers continuity of care.

The things I am most proud of in my nursing role are being able to help patients who are really poorly through to improved health, whilst supporting them and their families during difficult and challenging times through my caring and cheerful approach.  Often, people in the day centre where I work relate to me as if I am a member of the family, sharing memories and photos of their family. I particularly enjoy the comments that they make about the care and dignity they receive from the team, often we are the only contact people have across the week.  I’m proud to be part of a team that enables people to remain at home for as long as they wish and know that am I making a difference to people’s lives.”