Carlie’s life-long commitment to care
Carlie Karakusevic spent nearly 29 years working as a GP in Teignmouth, dedicating her career to supporting patients in the community with high-quality care, while also witnessing the invaluable work of the hospice along the way. “Working locally, I have seen first-hand the vital role provided by the team at Rowcroft. This ranges from the skills and compassion of the medical and nursing staff, the physiotherapists and occupational therapists, the music, art and complementary therapists and the social work and bereavement teams, all supported by many unseen faces,” she reflects.
Working with Macmillan: driving change
For a number of years, alongside her GP work, Carlie worked with the Macmillan charity as part of a team of leaders across Devon delivering innovation and change in end-of-life care. “It was an educational role supporting doctors and nurses working in primary care and in the community to improve their skills and knowledge. This experience gave me some insights into the challenges facing charities in the health sector,” she explains.
Joining Rowcroft
Since retiring as a GP in 2022, Carlie has been delighted to support Rowcroft on a voluntary basis as a trustee. “Although I was aware of the clinical aspects of the Rowcroft team, I have been struck by the breadth of the Rowcroft family, spanning from fundraising to retail and of course, the infrastructure to facilitate all the work. I have brought my clinical perspective to this role but also the experience of managing a business working within the boundaries of the health system,” she says.
Making every day the best it can be
“It is not possible to underestimate the benefit of supporting someone near the end of their life, for them and their family. The Rowcroft aim to ‘make every day the best it can be’ is an approach I thoroughly commend, and I am honoured to play a small part,” says Carlie.
Chairing the Clinical Committee
Shortly after becoming a trustee, Carlie also became the chair of Rowcroft’s Clinical Committee. “This committee ensures that the services provided by Rowcroft, whether within the Inpatient Unit or in the South Devon community, are of the highest standard and comply with regulations and achieve best practice,” she explains.
Looking to the future
Looking ahead, Carlie is aware of the changing needs in South Devon: “The change in demographics locally is already having an impact with more people with multiple long-term conditions and dementia needing support at the end of life. This is alongside people living for longer with cancer due to improvements in treatments.
“At Rowcroft, I am confident that the team will continue to adapt and provide personalised specialist end-of-life care, alongside their generalist colleagues in the wider community.”
Carlie’s dedication, experience, and warmth make her a true asset to Rowcroft Hospice.
Carlie lives near Newton Abbot with her husband and enjoys gardening, sailing, and coastal walks with the dog.
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