Jane Deville is an indispensable member of the DHU Healthcare team, providing vital support and compassion as a healthcare assistant. With over two years of dedicated service, Jane has an incredible commitment to her patients, bringing a wealth of experience having worked alongside District Nurses for 16 years.
"I've been with the NHS since 2003, currently juggling two roles," Jane explains. "I work as a Healthcare Assistant at DHU Healthcare on weekends and then during the week, I'm part of the mental health specialised commissioning team at NHS England."
Reflecting on her journey into healthcare, Jane told us, "I originally trained as a nurse escort. Back then, things were a bit more basic for example we used our own cars to transport nurses and handled evening calls. Since then, there have been massive changes, with all calls now being triaged by the NHS111 team."
Whilst Jane always had a desire to work in healthcare — inspired by her mother who was a nurse — her career took a different path. "I never pursued nursing, although my mom always wanted me and my sister to be nurses. Now, I feel I'm too old to start training!"
Jane's typical day involves providing vital support to district nurses and offers essential healthcare services to patients. "It's very, very varied. No two shifts are the same at all," she says, emphasising the changing nature of her work.
“Being with nurses at DHU is like going to work with your friends and having the best time and I think the drive of it is that you are working with professionals, people you can trust. It is very patient focused and hopefully with each visit to a patient, you are making a small difference to a person’s life.
“The previous weekend, for example, was just very challenging with some complex visits. It was quite tough, me and my colleague ended up sitting in the car and reflecting with each other because some visits can be difficult and we're there to support each other. I think that is really crucial that you're with people who you can trust and know that it's okay to stand in the kitchen and talks things through. You know, I think it's those types of visits where you think, "Let's try and do the best for this patient," and obviously, we did.”
It's working through these challenges that Jane finds joy in her work. "Within the NHS, it's not just about addressing medical issues; it's about providing social support too. Our roles have evolved significantly. We're not just nurses attending to medical needs; we're addressing broader community issues. While we may not have specific training in certain areas, we rely on our judgment and past experiences to help our patients as best as we can."
Jane's dedication to her patients and her willingness to go above and beyond make her an essential part of the DHU Healthcare team. In the face of challenges, she remains committed to providing the best possible care to those in need.