Julia Halpin works as a volunteer Parish Nurse across all the parishes of the Mission Community. Parish nursing brings professional nursing skills to add to the pastoral care offered by all the churches to people of all faiths or none who live within our parishes. Parish nurses do not do the work of the NHS but aim to support it, offering health support in the widest sense and caring for the whole person; body, mind and spirit.
Julia attends the parent and toddler groups in the area monthly, offering support and advice as well as weighin
g babies when their parents find it difficult to attend clinics. She is qualified to advise regarding child health and development and parenting issues, referring back to the NHS whenever necessary.
Julia carries out home visits when requested for people with ongoing health difficulties, new medical conditions, failing health or social isolation. She helps to support people caring for loved ones at home. She can liaise with the statutory services and other voluntary services to optimise the help people receive to keep healthy. She accompanies people to some hospital appointments and helps them to understand their medical conditions and to live with them as well as possible. She also takes Home Communion to people for whom this is important although they cannot attend church. She is happy to pray with people when this would be helpful to them. Julia contributes to the care offered by the clergy and church family during serious or terminal illness and following bereavement.
Parish nurses make initial contact with people only on request and by appointment, so if you would like a visit or know someone who would benefit and who has agreed to a visit, contact Julia on 07771728016 or speak to one of the clergy.