Lead Nurse Medicines Management, Trust-wide

“I am lead nurse for medicines management, and work for the Chief Nurse team and pharmacy.  I have one team member and we work closely on projects such as the newly qualified nurse preceptorship programme, the Trust’s ward accreditation tool and various other projects at the Chief Nurse team’s request.  From a medicines perspective I am non-medical prescribing lead and chair of the Trust’s non-medical prescribing/patient direction group.

“From the age of 12 I knew I wanted to be a nurse - but I didn’t tell anyone until I began applying to do my training, which I did in Harrogate.  I qualified in 1991 and started working as a staff nurse in Harrogate on neuro rehab.  I later moved to York, my hometown, in April 1995 to work in orthopaedics which I had wanted to do since my orthopaedic placement during my training.  I spent 13 years working in orthopaedics and during this time was supported to undertake the orthopaedic nursing course in Bradford, working in Leeds hospitals during the practical placements.

“I have been a nurse for nearly 30 years and what is great is the variety of opportunities that are available for nurses in the NHS.  During my time I have worked in a number of different areas from elderly medicine to infection prevention as a research nurse - to name but a few!  I have enjoyed every single role for different reasons.  I really enjoy my current role as I have a wide variety of work which keeps me on my toes and allows me to access all areas in the organisation.

“One of the biggest changes I have seen in the NHS is the introduction of electronic prescribing and medicines administration (EPMA), which I am heavily involved with introducing at the Trust.  As medicines increase in number, the complexity and the interactions between them also increases so the new EPMA system provides us with more robust monitoring and additional tools to manage medicines safely, in a way not possible before.  The other change which I remember the most was the phasing out of mercury thermometers, as it was so significant at the time.

“I love that no two days are the same and that I get to influence the quality of patient care through our staff.   I enjoy meeting and working with different staff groups and this also gives me regular patient contact.  I feel that if I don’t have that contact I can’t credibly speak for staff who are delivering patient care day in and day out.

“I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to nurse so many different patients from all areas throughout my career.  I love coming into work and I am incredibly proud to tell people that I am part of the NHS.”

Paediatric Audiologist, York Hospital

“I work as a paediatric audiologist at York and Malton hospitals.  I have worked for the Trust for nearly 20 years, starting as a support worker on the nursing bank then a health care assistant.  With a BTEC in health and social care under my belt I wasn't quite sure of my direction.  I was fortunate to become a healthcare assistant in the ENT clinic which where my interest in audiology started.  The staff were friendly and very knowledgeable and, if you were keen to learn, someone was always ready to teach you.

“I was exceptionally lucky to be given a place to do a BTEC audiology qualification.  So that was it - I was now studying to be an audiologist.  I had a two year old child and was about to return to work full time and become a student again.  I studied over the next two years spending time in the department where ‘me and my shadow’ became a common joke with one of the senior audiologists as I sought to gain more insight into audiology.

“I love the way that no day is the same in audiology, everyone is an individual and will manage hearing loss in very different ways. People will open up to you about how their difficulty affects their work, their relationship and sometimes the isolation that they may feel, with what sometimes seems to be an invisible problem to the rest of the world.  The idea that I am helping people with their difficulties is a very privileged role.

“It’s very rewarding to break down boundaries when adults or children are reluctant to try a hearing aid, or unwilling to cooperate with a hearing test. I now work more with children and enjoy all that working with two year olds brings.  Some days children don’t want to wear shoes or sit in the pram, never mind cooperate with a hearing test!

“I'm now starting to see children who I've looked after with their own children and I’m guiding them through audiology.  Working with children who have additional needs is very rewarding.  Sometimes when things have worked well for the individual it can be quite fantastic or simply a 'high five,' ‘thanks Stace’, or a huge bear hug!

“The NHS is often viewed from other countries as a fabulous resource, and although we can be stretched for time and resources, it can be stressful, and it’s hard work, I feel very fortunate to be a part of it.  It keeps changing to keep up with the demands, but the one thing that remains constant is the goodwill of the staff.”

Electrical services manager, Scarborough Hospital

“I’m the Electrical Services Manager for the East Coast hospitals. I’ve worked for the NHS for 35 years, half of the life of the NHS.

“I came straight from school as an apprentice on £27 per week. At the time 92 people applied for my job and I was the only successful one. I’m still here, having seen the Scarborough site triple in size during in my time here.

“I look upon Scarborough as my hospital - it has looked after me and my family many times over the years. It is a close community, particularly among staff at the hospital, and I’m fortunate to have many friends around. This was something that was brought home to me after a recent loss as so many friends have stopped and talked to me to wish me well. It’s is nice to know the support is there.

“I like to try and look after my hospital and I am in the fortunate position to be able to do so in my role. As part of my job I look after the emergency generators at Scarborough Hospital which arrived the same year as me and are still going strong. They have never let the hospital down in 35 years which is an amazing record and is something I’m very proud of.

“My best piece of advice would be to always look after your family and friends as you never know when you might need them.”

Domestic Assistant, York Hospital

“I’ve worked at the Trust as a Domestic Assistant at York Hospital for the last 15 years. I work on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“Before joining the Trust I had worked at a supermarket, but wanted do something where I could feel like I was giving back to the community, which is how I ended up at the at the Trust, as I truly believe there is no organisation that serves the community quite like the NHS. Joining the Trust has been the best decision I ever made.

“From the opportunities I get to meet people from all walks of life, through to the relationships and close bonds I’ve been able to build with colleagues at all levels within the Trust, I feel that every day working for this great organisation is a genuine privilege.

“While I’m not directly helping save lives, it’s always humbling to hear that what I do in keeping the wards clean for staff and patients does contribute to patients getting better more quickly. It's comments like this that make the staff at York Hospital some of the best people I have had the pleasure to meet and work with.

“The staff were also fantastic following the death of my husband from cancer. During my time off I was visited by the head sister of ICU. I didn’t feel like she needed to have gone out of her way just to visit me, but I was assured that this is something they would do for anyone who was part of the team.

“Making me feel part of the team is something staff here are great at. They involve me in everything they do, from nights out and staff socials, making sure that I feel one of them - they never fail to include me as part of everything they do.

“Working here is often an education. Recently, I was even shown how to give CPR correctly and just from talking to staff day in and day out, I now know what an aneurysm is! Again it really is a privilege to be considered part of such a wonderful team.

“The biggest change in my time with the NHS has been the uncertainties we’re currently going through. However, as long as we preserve the service we can rest easy that patients in this country will continue to get what they need.

“To me, the NHS means everything. It’s helped me make friends from all over the world, meeting people I probably would not have had the opportunity to meet. It is the heart and soul of the country. Without the NHS we have nothing and it is so important that we cherish it and protect it.”

Security and Car Parking Manager, Trust-Wide

"I am the Security and Car Parking Manager and an Accredited Security Management Specialist, for the Trust.

"I work in the Safety Department within Estates and Facilities providing guidance, advice, support and help to all staff and service users throughout the Trust. I also manage the Senior Program Support Officer for CCTV and the Security Admin team who provide all of the Trust ID cards and parking permits for all staff.

"I started my time with the Trust in March 2010 as a Security Officer working for a company contracted to the Trust, working my way up to security officer supervisor within four years and gaining several qualifications along the way. In November 2014 there was an opportunity to join the NHS as a manager so I applied. I was successfully appointed and I have never looked back.

"Working in security has involved me with every department, and I have worked in every environment side by side with other NHS professionals. The variety is like no other and covers almost every aspect of security that you can think of. I have done everything from assist the armed police with measurements, to pulling a patient in from a window ledge on one of the wards after they had smashed the window and climbed onto the ledge and threatened to jump.

"One day you can go from listening to patients with dementia just talk for hours, to stopping Emergency Department staff from being assaulted while they are trying to do their jobs. You can be close by to provide a quick response for staff that are dealing with aggressive patients, to providing escorts for staff to their cars on dark winter evenings.

"I’m very proud and lucky to work with such an amazing team. Everyone is so supportive and encouraging, and we help each other to develop and progress. The team is always there no matter what is going on.

"As much as the NHS has done for me professionally, I am also incredibly grateful to the service as a patient and as a father. I was technically still born. I was resuscitated at birth and I was 6 weeks premature. I had Pyloric Stenosis which was undiscovered for 3 and a half weeks and I was just 3lbs 1oz when I was operated on.

"When my daughter was five, she became very unwell. Fast forward fourteen months later after a very difficult and tricky diagnosis where she was under five specialists and she had been poked and prodded, numerous blood tests, MRI and Meckel’s scans, x-rays, ultrasounds, a camera up and down, twice, bone marrow biopsy, lymph node removed, put to sleep 6 times and anything else you could probably think of, before a PET scan discovered a tumor and I was told that she had a rare form of cancer. The tumor was removed and sent to Boston in America, to be studied by the world’s leading expert in this form of cancer.

"In September 2018, my daughter will be 18 months cancer free. If it wasn’t for the NHS I don’t believe my daughter would be with us today.

"I’m proud to work for the NHS and I respect each and every person who works here, at every level, because together we all provide a fantastic service not only to each other, but to thousands upon thousands of service users too. The passion, empathy and professionalism I have witnessed in my eight and a half years here is second to none."

Consultant in Elderly Medicine, Trust-wide

"I work as a Consultant in Elderly Medicine. I am also the Trust’s Dementia lead.

"I grew up and qualified in Leeds and have never worked outside of Yorkshire! It’s sometimes hard to believe but it has been 18 years since I was appointed. I was attracted to Elderly Medicine soon after my house jobs because of its emphasis on team working, holistic care and the wide variety of conditions we see. I work on Ward 23 which is a general elderly ward and Ward 37 which is a medical ward for older patients with Delirium and Dementia.

"Hospitalisation for patients with Dementia and Delirium can be a frightening experience and can also be associated with adverse outcomes such as falls and increased length of stay. It can also be very stressful for relatives and carers. We aim to assess such patients on Ward 37 which is a specialist ‘Dementia friendly’ ward. It is remarkable that so many patients settle soon after transfer without the use of sedative drugs what we have termed ‘The Ward 37 Effect’!

"I enjoy the all-inclusive assessment of our patients with medical, mental health and social needs. We attempt to personalise care plans and understand the individuals beneath the medical labels. We are truly multidisciplinary and an important part of our role is supporting relatives and carers during this period. The work can be challenging due to diagnoses and problems not always being obvious at the outset.

"One of the biggest changes I have seen since qualification is how Dementia is slowly but surely gaining recognition nationally at the highest level. What used to have the terrible label of ‘senility’ is now a fully-fledged medical condition which sits proudly beside cancer and stroke in importance. I am pleased there is a National Strategy for Dementia and there are now clear standards in place for training, care in hospital and we regularly audit our practice. We have dramatically reduced the use of potentially harmful sedative drugs over the years.

"Despite the fact there is currently no cure for Dementia, there are many interventions available to support and alleviate the effects of Dementia. This is an area of very active research so I hope some new effective treatments will not be too far away.

"The NHS is a great institution and we must all do our utmost to safeguard it."

Senior Physiotherapist, York Hospital

"I am a senior physiotherapist specialising in cardiac rehabilitation.

"I joined York Trust in 2001 having worked at the Leeds Nuffield Hospital and Pinderfields, Derby and Nottingham City hospitals.

"I have always been interested in human biology and my first degree was in physiological sciences at Newcastle. I quickly realised that this did not lead to a vocational occupation other than teaching, lecturing or research. I took time out as a PE teacher at a private school and was successful in gaining a place at Nottingham School of Physiotherapy. Through this I developed a real interest in cardio thoracic surgery, ITU respiratory and also in burns and plastics as you treat patients acutely who have serious conditions and then get to work alongside them for rehabilitation. This is still very true to elements of my current role.

Junior Doctor, Scarborough Hospital

“I’m a doctor in the Emergency Department at Scarborough Hospital.

“I have been in the region since 2010 when I first started my training at the Hull York Medical School, and since qualifying in 2015 I’ve worked for the Trust in a number of different areas.  I’m from the South East and didn’t plan on living and working here, but I really like it and so haven’t got round to leaving yet!

“I can’t pinpoint exactly when I decided I wanted to be a doctor, but certainly when it came to applying for university, there wasn’t another course I wanted to do, or even considered if I’m being honest, so I guess that’s when I realised that medicine was the thing for me.

“For me, the Emergency Department showcases that fundamental tenet of the NHS, universal access to healthcare that is free at the point of delivery.  Whoever you are, whatever problem you have, whether it is day or night, we will do our utmost to fix it.

“I really do love my job and one of the best bits is the randomness, the unpredictability, the variety.  I can be with a five-year old who has asthma, then see someone in their sixties having a heart attack who needs to be transferred to Hull for emergency treatment, then put someone’s shoulder back into place after they’ve dislocated it whilst out mountain biking, before admitting an elderly person with a chest infection who can’t cope at home and then stitch up a cut on a rugby player’s head…and all before lunch - if I get it!

“I’m at the start of my career in the health service, but even in the short time that I’ve been working I’ve seen it get much busier.  There are more and more people needing to be seen.  Sometimes I wonder how many of them would be in the waiting room if the NHS didn’t exist as it does.  Partly because some of them really don’t need to be there but more because I suspect that there are a lot of people who simply wouldn’t be around today without the care the NHS has given them over past seventy years.

“The best bit of advice I’ve been given is called the ‘grandma rule’.  The essence of it is to treat everyone like they’re your grandma.  If you wouldn’t do it - for example an investigation, treatment or procedure - to your grandma, then do you really need to do it at all?  This really makes me think about the investigations that I do, especially in the emergency department, and whether they have a meaningful impact on a patient’s journey.”

Desktop Engineer, York Hospital

“I am a Desktop Engineer working in Systems and Network services, providing technical support and advice to nearly 9,000 staff.  I have worked at the Trust for the last three years, as part of a team of nine engineers based both at York and Scarborough hospitals.

“I started my career in the NHS initially on work experience in systems and networks, doing stock control and audit inventory.  When the job came up as a desktop job engineer I applied and I’ve never looked back since.

“I love the variety and unpredictability of the work I do - no two days are the same when you work in the NHS. At the Trust there are thousands of systems and applications in operation, so it’s necessary that I have working knowledge of most of them.  As a team we are responsible for the upkeep and support of multiple devices.  We undertake everything from hardware and software faults, new installations, decommissioning old machines to diagnosing problems - so I guess we are a bit like doctors but for computers.

“I’m lucky as the people I work with are amazing - providing me with the support I need to develop and progress.  They are always on hand with a joke or two and they are the reason I love my job so much.

“One of my proudest moments in my career was being invited to attend the Unsung Hero Awards earlier this year, where my colleagues and I won ‘The Team of the Year Award’.  We were recognised for tirelessly working to check, isolate and clean nearly 6,000’s PC’s following an unprecedented cyber-attack, which was felt throughout the NHS, as well as the Trust.

“The NHS means the world to me - not just as an employee but also as a patient.  When I was sixteen I was involved in a life threatening accident at a recycling plant, which resulted in the loss of my left arm.  It could have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for the NHS and the wonderful people that work there.  I will always be grateful for the care I received.

“I was always told ‘treat people how you would like to be treated yourself’ and I always try to be as helpful as possible.  I respect the work and the efforts put in by every member of staff in the Trust and feel part of one big team.”