Last month, Cecilia Green, one of our community staff nurses with the DHU Palliative Care Urgent Response Service in Derbyshire, set off on an extraordinary journey.
Travelling over 8,000 miles from her home, Cecilia is spending 12 weeks working as a community nurse in the Falkland Islands.
The Falkland Islands, known to many due to the conflict in the early 1980s, has a population of 3,662, and its residents are British citizens. The capital, Stanley, located on East Falkland, is the largest settlement on the islands.
Tracy Fudge, DHU's Head of Community Nursing, shared her enthusiasm for Cecilia’s opportunity, stating, “When Cece approached me and told me that she had been presented with the opportunity to work as a community nurse in the Falklands, I was keen to support her request to take an unpaid break from work to pursue this exciting adventure. I am looking forward to hearing about how community nursing is delivered in a completely different environment.”
Throughout her time on the islands, Cecilia has been sharing updates on her experiences. “It is very interesting from a population and nursing point of view. Health-wise, there is a lot of diabetes and long-term conditions, but the folk are very hardy and just keep going. Everyone is lovely, and they are very friendly and kind,” she shared.
Reflecting on the experience, Cecilia said, "This opportunity has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and experience community nursing in a whole new setting. The challenges are different, but it's been incredibly rewarding to adapt my skills to meet the needs of the Falkland Islanders."
Beyond her nursing duties, Cecilia has embraced the opportunity to explore the island’s stunning landscape and wildlife. “It is very windy but sunny, and we have had snow. The penguins are coming to the islands to have their babies. I have also seen seals and orca whales,” she said.
Cecilia is expected to return to the UK in December and will resume her role with DHU Healthcare, bringing back valuable insights from her time as a community nurse in the Falklands.
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