From Haematology to Primary Care
For Hollie Bloom, nursing has always been about more than providing clinical care, it’s about creating services that truly meet the needs of patients. Her career journey began in haematology on the transplant unit at City Hospital, before moving into primary care, where she worked for six years as a Practice Nurse in Radford. Along the way, she also qualified as a Non-Medical Prescriber, equipping her to deliver an even broader scope of care.
In December 2022, Hollie took on a new challenge: setting up and running a Housebound Service for South Ashfield PCN. This role opened her eyes to the complexities and opportunities of providing care to some of the most vulnerable patients, those living with frailty who are unable to attend a practice.
Why the Fellowship?
When the opportunity to apply for the Mid-Career Fellowship came along, Hollie saw it as a perfect chance to take the Housebound Service to the next level.
“I wanted to progress the service and expand my own knowledge by undertaking the fellowship.” Hollie Bloom
The fellowship offered her protected time, expert guidance, and a network of peers who were equally passionate about making positive changes in primary care.
Project Highlights: Transforming the Housebound Service
Hollie’s fellowship project focused on reviewing and developing the Housebound Service to make it more effective and patient-centred.
Key achievements included:
Designing a new holistic review template – allowing frailty patients to receive a more structured and comprehensive assessment in their own homes.
Developing a patient feedback questionnaire – giving patients and families the chance to share their experiences and ensuring the service was shaped around their needs.
Improving efficiency and impact – colleagues reported that the new template streamlined reviews, making them more productive and consistent.
Perhaps most importantly, patient feedback highlighted the positive impact the service was having on health and wellbeing, showing the real difference her work was making in the community.
Professional Growth and Recognition
The fellowship wasn’t just about service redesign, it was also about personal and professional development. Hollie highlights several aspects that made the experience invaluable:
Networking with other nurses – hearing insights from peers in different areas expanded her knowledge and sparked new ideas.
Mentorship and support – working with Gemma and receiving one-to-one coaching from Nicola Payne helped her reflect on her own practice, personality, and career aspirations.
Learning opportunities – face-to-face teaching days provided fresh tools and knowledge that she could immediately apply in her role.
One unexpected outcome was being encouraged to apply for the prestigious Queen’s Nurse title. Hollie did so — and was honoured to be awarded this recognition. She is now building on her fellowship project by studying for a Frailty Master’s course, ensuring her expertise continues to grow.
Why Hollie Recommends the Fellowship
For Hollie, the fellowship has been a game-changer, both for her service and her career.
“I would recommend the fellowship to others a million percent. Practice nursing can often feel lonely due to the workload and the way we work. The fellowship is a great way to meet with other like-minded nurses, share experiences, and gain so much that you can take back to your own practice. You can really get your teeth stuck into something you feel passionate about and bring productive changes to your way of working.” Hollie Bloom
Looking Ahead
Hollie’s journey shows the power of the Mid-Career Fellowship to not only improve services but also to inspire personal growth, build networks, and spark innovation in primary care. Her work in developing the Housebound Service is already having a tangible impact on patients’ lives, and with her Queen’s Nurse title and ongoing Master’s study, it’s clear her influence will continue to grow.
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