Shropshire nurse to feature in special BBC series

An End of Life Care Lead Nurse at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) is to feature in a special BBC series of Extraordinary Portraits to mark the 75th birthday of the NHS.

Comedian and actor Bill Bailey is presenting the six-part series which pairs up Jules Lewis, from the Trust, and other inspiring NHS staff with leading British artists to create specially commissioned portraits.

Jules, Swan End of Life Care Facilitator and Lead Nurse, is matched with magical realist painter Belinda Eaton for the programme. As part of the journey, Belinda and Bill find out how Jules and her team make patients’ last hours or days as pleasant as possible.

They arrange everything Swan model of care related from ‘taste for pleasure’ to end of life care weddings. Jules with support from Lead Swan End of Life Care Volunteer Jules Lock and the team also run ‘Bereavement SupportCafes’, to help staff come to terms with their own bereavements.

Jules said: “The whole experience has been both surreal and amazing. Bill, Belinda and the rest of the crew were so incredible and sympathetic to the work that we do. It was so great to be able to share with them what we do here at our Trust and for them to meet some of those bereaved relatives who have experienced our care first hand.

“Never would I have imagined that I would ever have a portrait painted and it was both nerve-wracking and exciting. Every step of the way was emotional.”

Hayley Flavell, Director of Nursing at the Trust, said: “It is fantastic that Jules was chosen to be part of this special series alongside other inspirational NHS staff. Jules has been instrumental in improving the care for those receiving end of life care at our Trust. I cannot wait to see her portrait.”  

Bill Bailey said: “Hearing the incredible stories of the staff who work in the NHS, and watching the brilliant range of featured artists at work has been a fantastic experience. I can’t wait for viewers to see ordinary, yet extraordinary individuals immortalised in portraiture, particularly on the 75th anniversary of the NHS.”

Other NHS staff featured included Scotland’s first Asian paramedic, a porter who joined the NHS during the pandemic and a family from three generations who span 60 years of dedicated NHS service. 

The series begins on BBC One on Monday 17 July at 8.30pm.