Nurses and Doctors Every year the diocese brings sick pilgrims to Lourdes, a pilgrimage that they cannot make without the support from the wonderful doctors and nurses who come with us. Without your expertise we cannot give as many pilgrims the wonderful experience of Lourdes. This is an opportunity for you to do something new and to make a real difference for these travellers. Nurses Lucy Mitchell- student nurse Lucy chose Lourdes as her elective for university. “I felt Lourdes offered a different experience. Patients wouldn't be able to come without the help of nursing teams. It’s something spiritual for them to experience which we don't really get in the hospital I'm used to. “You can see why people keep coming back, volunteering and coming every year in their own time. It's been a great experience so far.” Tamzyn, Libby and Melissa - student nurses Tamzyn, Libby and Melissa are all from Keele University and they chose Lourdes as their elective for different reasons. Listen to their thoughts on the 2019 pilgrimage and why they chose Lourdes. Doctors The role of a doctor in Lourdes is very different from your professional role at home. The sick on a pilgrimage present with existing diagnoses and treatment plans prior to travel, and the role of the doctor is to help replicate these. Changes in a pilgrim's condition are normally either predictable within the context of their disease and of the pilgrimage, and therefore can be viewed as a predictable aspect of the existing treatment plan, or are completely unexpected, where the role of the doctor would be to signpost the pilgrim appropriately. Doctors are a valuable addition to a clinical team in Lourdes. You can offer: Clinical decision-making: This is extremely important for the more complex pilgrim, and not having doctors means that we may not be able to take pilgrims with more complex issues. Leadership: Of course many nurses have good leadership skills, but doctors have credibility as authority figures so can more easily provide clinical leadership where there is differing views about the best course of action within the pilgrimage. Governance and working as a doctor in Lourdes Carers Carers, whether new to the role or returning will need to fill in the same application form sections as nurses and doctors so that our Chief Nurse can ensure we have the right balance of clinical skills to care for the Accueil Pilgrims that we take with us. Booking Doctors, nurses and carers, please use the application form below Nursing team application Please send your completed form to the Lourdes Pilgrimage Office: Tel & Fax: 0121 230 6288 Lourdes Pilgrimage OfficeCathedral HouseSt Chad’s QueenswayBirminghamB4 6EX Email: [email protected]