Pembrokeshire's Shalom House Hospice project has taken a major step forward with the appointment of its director of services. Renate Thome brings a wealth of nursing, patient care, counselling, and training experience to the new post. She has been seconded to the job by the University of Wales Swansea where, since 1992, she has been involved in the Nurses Practitioner programme - the first in Wales. Originally from Belgium, Renate lives with her husband Stuart Warner, in Goodwick. She completed her nursing training in London, followed by additional children's nursing training at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Then, after gaining a degree at university, she worked for seven years in Hakin, Milford Haven, and was then appointed patient care manager within the community, taking responsibility for district nurses and health visitors. During her time as health visitor, Renate trained as a counsellor, working on a voluntary basis with RELATE. She consolidated this training with a Diploma in Counselling at Bristol University. She continued her interest in counselling while working at Swansea University and for the past six years has been a counsellor, and latterly supervisor, with the Pembrokeshire Counselling Service. Said Renate: "I have always been interested in palliative care and I feel my broad experience, which includes counselling as well as nursing, will be important to this job. "I have been seconded to the post by the university, initially for two years. The university is very supportive of this development which also offers a valuable opportunity for research into palliative care." Renate has also recently been involved in an award- winning project. Led in partnership by Swansea University and the Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust, the initiative was designed to improve patient care using real life patient stories and experiences. The project recently won a top award at the national Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare conference.

Important to get facilities right

The Shalom House Hospice at Nun Street, St. Davids, which will provide care for people with terminal or chronic illnesses, is nearing completion. But Renate Thome has a lot of work to do before the centre is opened to patients later this year. Staff will have to been appointed and she is keen to develop a strong team of volunteers and alternative therapy providers. "But most importantly we must first find out the needs of the community. For example, do we need to provide day care or longer term respite care? And can we combine the two? "I will be working closely with Withybush Hospital, GPs, nursing services and all the agencies involved in palliative care." She stressed: "It is so important that we get the facilities at Shalom exactly right for Pembrokeshire people."