Can you describe what you do day-to-day?
I work in the Squire Centre at Royal Brompton Hospital, which is a day case unit at the hospital for cardiology patients. The clinic sees patients who need to have invasive heart procedures, like angioplasties, who are able to return home the same day of their procedure.
My days are usually really varied and involve supporting patients before they come in for their procedures and also on the day of their admission. I help with preparing patients for their procedures by checking things like their blood pressure, height, weight and whether the patient has any infections which need managing.
Additionally, I also do a lot of work to support the general running of the clinic from restocking and performing safety checks on equipment, to submitting food orders for patients.
What do you like most about your job?
The best thing about my job is working alongside my team and my manager. Since we are a small team, we depend on good teamwork and supporting each other. We are always there for each other on stressful and heavy days at work.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Sometimes patients have to wait a while on the day of their procedure – they might be asked to arrive at the Squire Centre early in the morning for their admission checks, but their procedure might be scheduled for the afternoon. During this time, naturally patients can get anxious or frustrated so it is our job to act with compassion and care and offer continual support throughout the day.
What is the best thing a patient has ever said to you?
A memorable time was when a patient in the pre-screening clinic told me that he likes the Royal Brompton Hospital because we treat him like a person and not like a number on an NHS list. He told me that he appreciated the staff for not only giving him a high standard of medical care but also because they listen and comfort him when he needs support.
I was really pleased to hear this feedback because it summarises everything I hope to achieve when I go to work everyday.
Why did you decide to work in healthcare?
There are many reasons I decided to work in healthcare. I like that I have the opportunity to help others and form meaningful human connections with patients and colleagues. It is a career where I am continually developing my medical skills, in an industry which I see a positive future in. My job gives me a huge sense of satisfaction.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in the NHS?
I would really encourage people to consider a career in the NHS. I have found my organisation to be efficiently managed and it has a really nice atmosphere as an employee. They have a focus on helping staff achieve their goals through professional development and training opportunities, including gaining qualifications and certifications. This is important to me because it means that I have a stable employment and I can keep growing in my career.
Another real advantage of a career in the NHS is the multicultural environment we work in. I feel like having people with different backgrounds working together brings out the best in one another and means that we can care for our patients in the best way possible.