Abstract
This article will explore the role of the healthcare support worker (HCSW) within a hospital palliative care team (HPCT). The aim is to reflect on an intervention with one patient from my practice and also to reflect on the role of the HCSW on the HPCT. I reflected on a 65-year-old patient with end stage endometrial cancer. This reflective writing enabled me to identify how I contributed to her palliative care. Three themes emerged from this reflection: the importance of empathy, advocacy and communication skills. Empathy is a good basis to develop as a supportive relationship with a patient. Working as an advocate, the HCSW can help the patient make their own views or wishes heard. Both empathy and advocacy rely on the HCSW having good communication skills and the time to spend with the patient.
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