A fond farewell to Debbie Boots: Celebrating 24 years of compassionate care at Pilgrims Hospices
After an incredible 24 years with Pilgrims Hospices, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Debbie Boots, is retiring, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of care, compassion, and dedication.
Debbie in her early nursing days
Originally from Dagenham, Essex, Debbie has called Thanet home for many years. Her nursing career spans an impressive 44 years, taking just two short breaks for maternity leave. She first trained as a general nurse in Redbridge, gaining experience in male and female surgery and mental health care before moving into care home management.
But it was a single, deeply moving experience with an end-of-life patient at QEQM Hospital that led Debbie to hospice care – a decision that shaped the rest of her career.
Debbie joined Pilgrims Hospices with a passion for ensuring that patients facing life-limiting illnesses receive the best possible care. She embraced every opportunity to develop her skills, working on the in-patient wards and within the community team, earning a Master’s Degree and becoming an Advanced Practitioner Nurse – later recognised as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner.
Throughout her time at Pilgrims, she has played a crucial role in developing nurse prescribing within the charity, mentoring colleagues, and influencing best practices in end-of-life care.
Debbie with Brenda Blethyn
Reflecting on her journey, Debbie says:
“Listening is one of the biggest parts of our role as Pilgrims nurses. I’m a very good listener, and patients need to tell their stories. When you’re listening, you get a sense of what’s most important to them – and that’s what we need to focus on.
Everything we do here is patient-focused. We need to know that our patients feel supported and cared for every step of the way, right up to the very last moment.”
She continues:
“From the moment people are invited to attend any of our clinics or arrive at the hospice for the first time, they’re often tense and sitting on the edge of their chair. We work hard to pick up on the cues in those early conversations, and provide a management plan that will help them to live as well as possible for the remainder of their life.
“When people realise that we’re truly listening, reflecting and empathising, you can see the change – they begin to relax. By gaining their trust, we help them find the coping mechanisms they need at the early stages of their care.”
Her decision to retire was made over a year ago, with the heartfelt desire to be there for her elderly parents and growing family. She is looking forward to spending more time with her two young grandsons, Gregory (3) and Duncan (18 months), and to welcoming a granddaughter soon. At 62, Debbie is also prioritising her own health while embracing this new chapter of life.
Though stepping away from the hospice is bittersweet, Debbie is confident in the talented and dedicated nursing and clinical team she leaves behind. She shares:
“I’ve always worked alongside incredible colleagues, and now it’s time to step back and let them spread their wings. They have the skills, compassion, and fresh ideas to continue delivering outstanding care.”
However, this isn’t a complete goodbye. Debbie has expressed her wish to maintain her links with her beloved hospice career and is considering volunteering in one of Pilgrims’ charity shops in the future.
“It will be lovely to still feel that I’m part of the very special Pilgrims team,” she says.
A message from Kate White, Senior Nurse Manager:
“Debbie’s wisdom, warmth, and unwavering commitment will be deeply missed by colleagues and patients alike. We thank her for her years of service and wish her all the happiness and relaxation she deserves in retirement.”
Enjoy every moment, Debbie – you’ve truly earned it!
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, with services provided from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. It costs over £17.2 million annually to run these services, much of which comes from the generous support of the local community.
12th October 2022
Mandy retires after 47 years in nursing, a credit to her profession
In September 2022, Pilgrims Hospices said goodbye to one of its much loved nurses, Mandy Lawson, as she retired to spend more time with her children, grandchildren and her variety of animals.
Mandy from Minster, who trained as a nurse in 1975, leaves a legacy of 47 years in nursing and said: “It has always been a privilege to be a nurse and to care for those in need.”
She explained: “I retired from my role in the NHS more than 11 years ago; however, after just three months, I was missing the profession so much, I decided to look for a new position and returned to my beloved nursing.
“I’ve worked in surgical nursing wards, A&E and many others, also spending the last five years in the NHS as a community matron. In 1993, I left hospitals and worked for many years as a district nurse in the Canterbury, Ashford and Thanet areas and travelled a great deal, which I enjoyed very much.
“I have seen many changes throughout my career. When I started nursing it was on what was known as Nightingale Wards, they were very long with beds either side, we wore frilly hats and starched pinafores, and the IVs were given in glass bottles. A far cry from our modern equipment in today’s healthcare services.”
We are passionate about the care we provide and our team has won awards for projects about changing practices in areas of pressure wound prevention.”
Mandy
Mandy continued her career as a registered nurse when she joined Pilgrims Hospices and worked on the ward at the Thanet hospice, before specialising as a Tissue Viability Nurse and now holds the position as team lead.
“Managing patients’ comfort and being able to manage pressure ulcers and wounds is vitally important. We are passionate about the care we provide and our team has won awards for projects about changing practices in areas of pressure wound prevention.”
Mandy added: “I’ve had an amazing career in nursing, and enjoyed my time working with the hospices. Nursing in palliative care has been a great experience and one that I would not want to change.
“I was a veterinary nurse with a background in dairy farming, and worked on a dairy farm in Upstreet part-time when I was at school. I gained a place at agricultural college, that led on to me doing my veterinary nurse training. However, I didn’t enjoy veterinary nursing. My mum was a nurse, she told me there were interviews taking place for nurse training and why didn’t I go for it… I got on the course and did my nurse training, hands-on at Margate hospital, and the rest is history.
I have also experienced Pilgrims Hospices care from the side of a patient too. My mum, Doreen, was cared for at Pilgrims Hospice Thanet around 14 months ago. Our family will be eternally grateful for the support and care offered by Pilgrims; everyone from carers, catering staff, support services and volunteers were amazing.
Mandy
“I’m a busy lady, and I’m not sure how I’m going to feel about not being a nurse, it’s been my life for so long, it will be a new experience.
“I’m looking forward to spending more time with my children, and grandchildren. It will be lovely to spend more time on my hobbies, one of which is singing in a local choir the ‘Village Voices’ in Minster where I’ve lived for 20 years. We usually sing for fundraising, and we’ve raised many £100s for local charities and causes. I have fun with a local dance group, the Mid-Life Movers and I’m also a member of the local Salvation Army, so there’s plenty to keep me busy.”
Alongside the many activities, she’s a keen animal lover and owns a horse and a small flock of sheep. Mandy explained: “I have a friend who breeds and shows livestock, and I took an interest in the preparing, showing and generally enjoy the farm life, I thought I might be a farmer when I was young. When I was 50, she bought me my first sheep, a beautiful Jacob, a very handsome black and white, I’m now the proud owner of a small flock, which I look after on a small holding in Manston.
Mandy
“I’m also really interested in conservation and rewilding, and hope to volunteer to help Wildwood with the new bison project. I’ve already undertaken some ecology study days at Wildwood ready for retirement. I’m an early to rise person, as I have the animals to attend to, so between them and the grandchildren I will be keeping busy.”
Mandy went on to say, “I have also experienced Pilgrims Hospices care from the side of a patient too. My mum, Doreen, was cared for at Pilgrims Hospice Thanet around 14 months ago. Our family will be eternally grateful for the support and care offered by Pilgrims; everyone from carers, catering staff, support services and volunteers were amazing. Dad cared for Mum at home after she had a stroke, Pilgrims’ Hospice at Home team were amazing in her final days at home. Pilgrims welcomed us with open arms when she needed the hospice for her final care.
“This year we attended the Sunflowers Memories day to remember her, it was indeed a very special day, which we will treasure in our memories.”
Hospice Care Week is an annual event where we recognise and celebrate Hospice UK and hospice care nationwide. It’s an opportunity to show the world the value of support, of care and of what matters to us as individuals at the end of life when we need it most.
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
