ALGARVE ANGELS is the prime nursing agency in the Algarve and is now in its fourth year.
The agency was created by Barbara Deacon in May 2005 to fill a niche that was lacking in the region – nursing and caring for people in their own homes.
Barbara, a trained and registered nurse and senior nurse tutor, had previously worked in the British Hospital in Lisbon and Hospital Particular in Alvor before deciding that the Algarve would benefit from a fully registered and legal nursing and care service.
Algarve Angels do everything from looking after people with short or long term illnesses, change dressings, injections, basic care and hygiene, assist with patients who have recently left the hospital to helping the terminally ill.
Holiday care
They also deal directly with a number of insurance companies including BUPA and Exeter Friendly. The Angels do not carry out domestic help, however. “Of course we are able to make simple meals for our patients but we are not there to cook for friends and family!” says Barbara.
With around 20 nurses and registered carers on her books, Barbara always tries to work with her staff on any new cases. “We never take on a new client without an assessment first,” she says. “We do a lot of holiday care – people coming over on holiday who need care, for example. In these cases, we ask them to fill in a very comprehensive form first, so we don’t get any surprises.” Everything is done with utmost confidentiality.
“I love my work,” says Barbara, “I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s so different to working in a hospital, but it can be very hard though.”
For more information, contact Barbara Deacon on 937 021 451.
