COLLEEN McLevie is more than a chaplain to her fellow staff at Kalamunda Hospital.
She has just been honoured with the Compassionate Care Award at the recent Health Consumer Excellence Awards.
“She is a counsellor, confidant, friend, daughter, mother and sister – helping those who are confronted with life, death and dying to come to terms with their situation,” her colleagues said.
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READ NOW“Her role in bringing families together during such a distressing time is invaluable.”
Colleen said she was “intrinsically interested in humanity”.
“I am interested in the patient’s story, in learning about their lives, and in that moment as their life is narrowing down – providing companionship and trust so that they can tell their story to someone.
“It doesn’t matter what their story, it is very precious.
“It’s not a job for me. It’s something that I am passionate about it.”
She said she could never work in isolation from colleagues.
“We all work together for a beautiful outcome for the patients – from the gardener, to the kitchen – everybody at the hospital cares.”
Colleen has held the role for 11 years.
Kalamunda Hospital provides an inpatient palliative care service, and on Wednesday marked National Palliative Care Week with an afternoon tea, bagpipes and the release of butterflies to represent the lives the hospital cares for.
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