Being one of the lead nurses in outpatients work is busy and no two days are the same for sister Jackie but she feels privileged to be part of an institution that has been around for 75 years!

Why did you choose to work in the NHS?

I always knew I wanted to be a nurse, and that I wanted to work for the NHS.  I went from A-levels,  had a gap year, to university, then straight into by first Band 5 Staff Nurse post in the Trust in 2002.  I am still proud to work for the NHS and can’t see me leaving it any time soon!

Tell us about your role? 

I am one of the Band 6 sisters who work cross site at both our Warrington and Halton Hospitals main Outpatient Department.  My role involves the safe set up and running of a variety of different specialty clinics and ensuring our patients have a good experience for their appointment.  I help to create rotas for clinics to ensure safe staffing and along with the senior nurse ream deal with any patient issues that may arise during the clinic session.  I work alongside a great team of nurses, healthcare assistants, admin staff, housekeepers and various other staff groups.

What do you most enjoy about your role? 

No two days are ever the same!  Working across two sites, and with such a variety of different specialities in outpatients mean that my working days are always different.  I love working in outpatients.  It is often the first time a patient accesses care within our hospitals, so we aim to give everyone a first class experience for their visit and hopefully giving them a good first impression of WHH.  I love the team I work with.  They are so hardworking and dedicated to giving patients excellent care and I am proud of them all.

What would you say to someone thinking about a career in the NHS? 

What can be better than being part of an institution that has been around for 75 years!! The NHS has been through some tough times, but we are so privileged in this country to have the healthcare system we do.  Its hard work, often rewarding, sometimes difficult and sad but such a fantastic institution to be a part of.