Johanna Packer had worked for Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and its predecessor Trusts for many years, looking after people living in south east Essex who had long term health conditions.
Johanna, who worked in the NHS for 40 years, was diagnosed with liver cancer in October 2023.
She was looked after by her former colleagues in the Palliative Care team at Rochford until her death in February this year.
Even while she was unwell, she was determined to help other people.
She and her husband Melvyn raised £1,250 for the Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre at Southend Hospital last Christmas.
And she asked her family and friends to raise money for vein finder devices, which use infrared light to locate veins beneath the skin.
It makes it easier for medical staff to draw blood or insert cannulas to administer medication and fluids.
This reduces discomfort and pain for patients, especially those who need blood tests regularly.
Johanna’s family and friends raised £8,000 and donated three vein finders, along with six stands, to EPUT’s Palliative Care and Community Nursing teams based in Hockley, Benfleet and Southend.
Johanna’s husband Melvyn, who described the Palliative Care team’s work as “incredible”, said: “Jo was a very strong-willed person and she said what she would like to do is bequeath vein finders for the team.
“That was Johanna, thinking of people even when she was dying.
“Within two weeks we raised £5,000 and in the end we raised £8,000.”
He said Johanna’s own arm was “black and blue” from needing almost daily blood tests during eight weeks of care in hospital.
Eldest son Andrew Packer said: “Taking blood from someone whose veins are difficult to locate can cause a level of anxiety for the nurse and the patient, especially when you know it could be a struggle but you need to do the blood test.”
The vein finders and stands have been provided by Walters Medical, who also kindly donated to some of the costs.
Andy Harris, a Palliative Care Nurse Specialist and one of Johanna’s close colleagues who helped to care for her before she died, said: “We have always wanted these machines and we are really grateful to Jo, her family and everyone who contributed for their generosity.
“We deliver palliative care to just over 2,700 patients, and it will be difficult to say exactly how many people will benefit from the vein finders because the district nursing teams will also be using them.
“But thousands of people will benefit and it will make a real difference to patients, which was always the wish of Jo and her family.”
Johanna started her career as a student nurse at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust before moving to Rochford Hospital in the early 1970s.
She later moved into district nursing and in 2005 she was one of two community matrons chosen to pilot a new service to provide one-to-one care for people at home.
Andy said: “She was a pioneer helping to start up the long term conditions team. She looked after my mum in 2015/16 and she was absolutely brilliant.”
Johanna’s family said she was always kind to her patients and thinking of other people before herself. She would invite patients and colleagues to Christmas dinner with the family if they were on their own or in need.
She retired from nursing in 2016 and became a chaplain at Southend Hospital.
Her commitment to public service is one that is shared by the whole family.
Husband Melvyn was a crime scene investigator in the Metropolitan Police for 38 years, son Andrew is a retired police officer and now a counsellor, daughter Siobhan and son Adam are both teachers, and youngest son Philip is a paediatric nurse.
Andrew said: “My mum leaves a legacy of public service and the importance of giving to your community that has been instilled in all her children and the wider family.
“My mum would be so proud that legacy lives on and is really strong.”