7 March 2022
This week is National Careers Week, and to mark it we’re sharing colleague profiles from various teams across the Trust throughout the week!…
Danielle Fullwood, Pharmacist
What was your first job/role in the NHS?
I actually started by volunteering on the wards within the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust (SaTH) when I was younger before university. I enjoyed science related subjects at school and chose to continue with these subjects at A-Level, I knew I wanted to go into a healthcare or science-based role, but I wasn’t sure which one. I thought by volunteering, I could try and figure out what I wanted to do, whilst also doing something good!
During this time, I became more aware of the many roles within the hospital, the roles within Pharmacy caught my interest. My uncle’s sister was a Pharmacist, so, I decided to get in contact with her and ask her some questions about the position.
Another important thing I learnt whilst volunteering, was that I wasn’t very good with blood or vomit, or any bodily fluids in general – so that ruled out nursing/health-care assistant work for me!
How did you progress to the role you are doing now? Did you do any courses / qualifications?
After having a chat with the Pharmacist within my family, I felt really excited by the prospect of Pharmacy. I did a lot of research into the different sectors of Pharmacy and remember feeling as though I wanted to start learning it all there and then! I knew straight away I preferred the idea of being a hospital Pharmacist, rather than working in community or industry, as the regular patient-contact was something that really enticed me into the role.
I began looking at the qualifications needed as part of my research, and instantly felt overwhelmed! But I was sure that it was what I wanted to do and knew I’d put in the work to get there. I finished my A-Levels, I didn’t get in to my first choice of university after getting Grade B’s in biology, chemistry and maths, but have no regrets about ending up at Liverpool John Moore’s University. I did 4 years here and ended up coming out with a First-class MPharm degree, alongside all the great memories and experiences!
I thought a lot about staying in Liverpool to continue my training and career, but home circumstances meant it made more sense to come back home. So, I applied to be a Band 5 Pre-Registration Pharmacist at SaTH.
To become a fully qualified Pharmacist, I had to undertake a year training in practice, i.e., working full time as a ‘pre-reg Pharmacist’, whilst learning, attending regular study days, and passing a GPhC exam at the end of it. I completed this year at PRH, I knew straight away that I loved the world of Pharmacy and was so grateful to be a part of it. The whole team was so welcoming right from the start. I remember feeling amazed at the numerous roles and areas within the one department, but no matter how different everyone’s role, everybody worked together as one team – a ‘pharmily’ [pharmacy family!].
Not only were the people great, but I also really loved my work within the pre-registration year. As part of the training, I got to spend time in every department within Pharmacy – dispensary, the wards (encompassing all the different specialities), Medicines Information, aseptics, clinical trials, oncology services – the lot!
Once I qualified, I applied for a Band 6 Pharmacist position within SaTH and after being successful, moved across to RSH as a new Band 6 rotational Pharmacist, I was nervous about the move as I had become so comfortable at PRH and felt part of the team. Thankfully I was warmly welcomed at RSH, and the team was just as great here as at PRH. During my time as a Band 6 Pharmacist, I learnt so much, I re-rotated through all the above areas, utilising all my acquired knowledge from my degree and pre-registration year. I was trained fully on the wards, in radiopharmacy, TPN (total parenteral nutrition) and as a releasing officer for aseptically produced products – I thoroughly enjoyed being rotational, it gave me the chance to develop relationships with different colleagues, learn new skills and figure out exactly what it was that I enjoyed and wanted to further my career in.
After being a Band 6 Pharmacist for around 18 months, the Trust gave me the opportunity to obtain a clinical diploma through Keele University, this took 2 years – we had regular study days incorporated into our worktime and an in-house tutor (one of the senior Pharmacists). The course was very intense, but I learnt a lot from it and was grateful to have the chance to do it. After completing the diploma, I automatically became a Band 7 pharmacist at RSH, which was another great incentive for doing the course!
As a Band 7, I became a specialist rotational Pharmacist which involved me being a ‘link Pharmacist’ for a specific area within the Trust. I chose Parkinson’s disease, being a topic I found very interesting and one that I felt needed some Pharmacy input within the Trust. This allowed me to work alongside other members of the multi-disciplinary team – consultants, specialist nurses, physiotherapists, etc. to discuss specific patients, current issues with our practice and opportunities for improvement.
I loved the clinical, patient-facing part of my job; I found as my clinical knowledge improved and my confidence with patients grew, I valued the rewarding feeling of having an impact on a patient’s health and quality of life. I really began understanding the importance of our role and the areas we can make a difference. I also feel that as the years have gone on, Pharmacists in general have become more of a valued member of the multi-disciplinary team, recognising the input we can have into a patients care and in medicines optimisation.
Off the back of this, I discovered a true passion for care of the elderly and frail patients, identifying this group as one that I felt could really benefit from Pharmacist input, focusing on the patients holistically and the burden of polypharmacy.
What is your job now?
I have recently been appointed as a Band 8 Specialist Frailty Pharmacist, and I really love my job. I’m currently coming to the end of a 6-month independent prescribing course through Keele University funded by the Trust. This has enabled me to work closely with one of the Geriatricians in the Trust and the frailty team on A&E/the acute medical unit, which has been a great experience thus far, enabling me to see a different perspective of patient care than in my usual pharmacist role. Thankfully I’ve also got past my aversion to bodily fluids and become more comfortable with physical patient contact!
At the end of this course, I will hopefully be a non-medical prescriber, and this will enable me to further my role in many different ways. That’s one of the things I like about my role at the moment, there is no set path that the role needs to follow (within reason!), any ideas I have are taken on board. I look forward to seeing where the role can go and the impact it can have, especially on patient care.
I would say absolutely go for it! Besides working in Pharmacy in general, the NHS is a great place to build a career, yes, it’s been challenging over the past couple of years with COVID, but I wouldn’t have chosen to be anywhere else during this time. Not only is it a privilege to work within the NHS and I am proud to say that I do, but there are also so many opportunities for progression and learning, and of course all the other benefits a career in the NHS entails. I would recommend it to anyone!
Fi Hayward, Administration Assistant – Maxillofacial & Orthodontic Laboratory
What was your first job/role in the NHS?
I joined the Prince’s Trust Program in 2014 where I completed a volunteer placement with Oncology. I was then given an offer of employment as Bank Administrator with SaTH (flexible working).
How long did you do it for?
5 Years with SaTH Bank – Working across Oncology, Audiology and Recruitment.
How did you progress to the role you are doing now? Did you do any courses / qualifications?
I gained experience while working as a Band 2 member of the Bank Staff in multiple departments.
I had training with a number of programs and systems used across SaTH which enabled me to update my skills and experience, meaning I could apply for more challenging roles.
No additional courses completed as of yet, but I have recently been encourage to undertake an additional NVQ.
Did anyone inspire you to progress your career, such as a work colleague?
Jenny Price – Operational Manager to Ophthalmology. Jenny told me about her NHS journey from Medical Secretary to Operational Manager and how she had worked her way up over her years at SaTH.
Rachel Williams – Rachel was also on the Prince’s Trust Program at the same time as myself and has been working as a PA within Therapies. Rachel inspired me to apply for a PA role and gave me useful advice from her own experience.
What is your job now?
Band 3 Administration Assistant – Maxillofacial & Orthodontic Laboratory
Assisting a team of technicians and our manager with a range of administrative support, invoicing, ordering stock and diary management.
What would you say to anyone thinking of joining the NHS or to anyone thinking their future career development?
I have found my time working for the NHS a positive experience and being able to go home at the end of the day knowing I have helped contribute to the care of our patients is a very rewarding feeling.
The NHS has been very supportive with training opportunities and encourages staff to progress through the band system. Of course the work can be challenging at times, but if you are a compassionate and a caring individual then I would highly recommend looking at the many opportunities the NHS has to offer.
Graham Kelly, Consultant Radiographer
What was your first job/role in the NHS?
I was first employed in the NHS as a radiology assistant and receptionist when I was a student radiographer.
How long did you do it for?
I performed this job role through my degree training and whilst being a shop assistant.
How did you progress to the role you are doing now? Did you do any courses / qualifications?
After qualifying I undertook any role that would come my way. Saying, Yes!, to any additional role made sure I knew what I was good at and what needed more work. When the opportunity came to progress, I was then in a good position to grasp it with both hands. I studied my post graduate diploma in image interpretation to report x-ray images. I then progressed into a lecturer position and studied further to obtain a Masters degree in Education, where I went on to teach and perform research in multiple countries. I have never stopped learning and teaching since, even when I obtain my Consultant Radiographer role.
Did anyone inspire you to progress your career, such as a work colleague?
I have had the fortune to work with many amazing radiographers who have inspired me, through high standards to push myself even further. To carry on those high standards and to push the boundaries even further.
What is your job now?
Consultant Radiographer
What would you say to anyone thinking of joining the NHS or to anyone thinking their future career development?
Go for it! Learn, push yourself and you will be rewarded. And through this, you will help others, teach each other and help heal people in ways you didn’t know you could.
Sam Bunn, Consultant Healthcare Scientist
What was your first job/role in the NHS?
My first role in the NHS was a trainee Dental Technician. I was employed by Bristol and Avon Healthcare Trust on a 4 year contract, to attend University of Wales in Cardiff to gain my ONC in Dental Technology. During university holidays and for work placements I then worked at The Bristol Dental Hospital.
How long did you do it for?
I left Bristol in October ‘92, when successful in being recruited to the post of Junior Orthodontic Technician (MTO2) in the Dental Technology Laboratory at The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
How did you progress to the role you are doing now? Did you do any courses / qualifications?
The laboratory had a Senior Orthodontic Technician who I assisted, and the Laboratory Manager at the time (Peter Booth) was keen to encourage further training. I gained funding to attend Manchester Metropolitan University for the next 3 years and gained my advanced qualifications in Advanced Orthodontics and Maxillofacial Prosthetics and trauma. As the laboratory grew, and the department started to recruit more consultants, I was fortunate enough to start helping the Maxillofacial team using the skills I was learning at Manchester. I shadowed the Laboratory Manager and another Prosthetist in clinics and attended Theatres with them, after a couple of years, the role of Maxillofacial Prosthetist was added to my job description due to the large increase in work. With changes in staff and retirement, and the changes in our pay structure now known as Agenda 4 Change, I became the Principle Maxillofacial Prosthetist (MPT) and Maxillofacial and Orthodontic Laboratory Manager for the trust, over both laboratories. As an MPT, our qualifications, required registration to practise, and experience were deemed equivalent to an MSc. Something that wasn’t available at the time of training, however, we are now fortunate enough to be able to achieve equivalency, something that a number of us are now doing.
As a profession we have a number of titles, Maxillofacial Prosthetist, Anaplastologist and recently Reconstructive Scientist. We are classed as Healthcare Scientists.
Did anyone inspire you to progress your career, such as a work colleague?
Yes, definitely. Peter Booth the Laboratory Manager until 7/7/07 encouraged me to do as much training as possible, he also allowed me to do a lot of the work available in the lab. I’d attend Theatres, observe in Clinic, and he supported my ideas.
Mr S Olley, who was our Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, also helped me and was always interested in what progressions there were in the technical world. He was so approachable, and would help and advise whenever he could.
When you are part of a fantastic team, you want to improve and progress. To better yourself and achieve the same as others around you. I was forever asking to attend courses and this was always supported.
What is your job now?
I am a Consultant Healthcare Scientist – Maxillofacial Prosthetist and Laboratory Manager.
I reconstruct the facial features of patients who have had, or are going to have surgery for head and neck cancer or trauma, such as ears, eyes, noses and partial facial prosthetics. Treatment starts when a new patient will require a facial prosthesis post surgery, with a referral from the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, ENT Surgeons or occasionally Dermatology.
At the initial patient consultation, I discuss with the patients the practicalities and limitations of the prosthesis, how it will be constructed and how it can best be maintained. Building a strong rapport with patients is essential as the fabrication of a prosthesis can take between five to eight hour-long appointments.
The work of the Maxillofacial Prosthetist often starts at the pre-surgical planning stage. Before a patient goes to surgery, I plan implant placement, produce surgical cutting guides, all to ensure the final prosthesis can be as realistic as possible. Planning is done using CT imaging, cast models, photographs and more recently CAD-CAM.
When the patient has fully recovered from surgery, I take an impression of the defect area. This allows me to create a model onto which i sculpt a wax replica of the final prosthesis. When both myself and the patient are happy with the wax replica, I match the colour of the silicone for the prosthesis to the surrounding skin. I used to do this by eye, but now use a colour matching device which is very accurate. It creates a unique code for the skin tone.
The details that bring the prosthesis to life, such as veins, freckles and blemishes, are added by hand with special paints with the patient present. I hand sew features such as eyebrows and lashes.
In addition to the facial prosthetics part of my role, I also plan some Head and Neck Cancer and trauma patients surgery, depending on what surgery they are having. This is done on CAD-CAM, printed and prepared ready for Theatre, such as, cutting guides, prepared and bent titanium plates, implants, surgical cover plates to support dressings, and in-house 3D printed models for the surgeons to use as a visual guide.
I have worked closely with other Departments and Hospitals, designing new appliances and concepts. It is fantastic to be able to use the skills we have not just for Dentistry, but further afield, such as Radiotherapy, Speech Therapy, Dermatology, Audiology and other specialities. Our skills as a team overlap, and we all work very closely with the same end objective – The patient.
I do feel very privileged to have a job in Maxillofacial Prosthetics and really fortunate that we have a department here at the Trust offering first-class treatment to patients. We build a strong professional relationship with our patients, and it is extremely rewarding when we help bring a level of normality back to their lives.
What would you say to anyone thinking of joining the NHS or to anyone thinking their future career development?
My advice would be to ensure you are happy in your role. I loved art and science at school and my role has allowed me to continue using these 2 areas in my day to day work. Don’t feel intimidated at the thought of training, it can be enjoyable, opens new opportunities, and you’ll meet like minded people who will become great work colleagues and friends.
David Millett, Senior Pharmacist
What was your first job/role in the NHS?
My first job in the NHS was as a postgraduate preregistration Pharmacist at the Maelor Hospital in Wrexham in 1994
How long did you do it for?
12 months. It was a fixed term training contract to complete workplace training and demonstrating capability prior to registration with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
How did you progress to the role you are doing now? Did you do any courses / qualifications?
I grew up in Somerset and did my GCSEs and chose biology, chemistry and maths at A-level, mainly because I liked them and they interested me. I had no particular career in mind at this point. At a careers fair at school, I went in knowing that I wanted to do something with biology and chemistry and I definitely did not want to be a doctor! I looked at biochemistry as a potential career in the NHS and I met a Pharmacist (who also happened to be the admissions tutor for the Welsh School of Pharmacy!), he somehow inspired me to actively consider Pharmacy as a career. The only bit I still remember of that conversation was his closing remark of “you are pretty much guaranteed a job when you make it on to the register”. A work experience week during sixth form with Boots confirmed my interest. I applied to Schools of Pharmacy across the country and my A level results meant that I was able to take up an offer from my preferred University and went to the Welsh School of Pharmacy in Cardiff to do a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. After a bit of a blur, 3 years later I graduated and started the preregistration year in Wrexham.
My first job as registered Pharmacist in 1995 was at Weston Area Health Trust in Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset. I picked up out of hours emergency duty Pharmacist responsibilities and began a postgraduate diploma in clinical Pharmacy with the University of Bath. After 3 years of sea air, my partner at the time was homesick for Shropshire so I applied and was successful in getting a “middle grade” job at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital NHS Trust in 1998. Being young and enthusiastic, I was discussing preregistration training with the Chief Pharmacist and made a few suggestions, next thing I know, I am being asked to take over as preregistration tutor. Showing an interest in Pharmacist education and training then found me taking on postgraduate clinical training as the local coordinator for the Keele University postgraduate programme in clinical Pharmacy. I suppose I must have still been enthusiastic; I was invited to be a tutor and then join the course management of the Keele University postgraduate programme in clinical Pharmacy. Clearly, I was a glutton for punishment and was offered a secondment opportunity to go and work with the Shropshire and Staffordshire Workforce Development Directorate (later moving to NHS West Midlands) working on a regionwide Pharmacist training facilitation and commissioning. This opened further secondment opportunities to work as a preregistration training facilitator for the South West, Midlands and Wales with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. I must have been brimming with energy at the time because I was also undertaking a Masters degree in Education with Leeds University.
Ultimately, I returned to the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust full time, still looking overseeing preregistration and post registration Pharmacist and technician training. A corridor conversation led to me starting to work with the medical students from Keele University.
All the while I have maintained my clinical practice and seen many new drugs come (and go) during my time in practice. The BNF used to fit nicely in the pocket of my white coat, now I need an electronic device to navigate my way around it and the white coat is long gone. Common medicines today like statins and ACE inhibitors were new wonder drugs when I started, and ranitidine was the most widely prescribed drug on the planet (it is now unavailable). Interferons were the next big thing, turned out they weren’t, monoclonal antibodies were.
My mantra is that all medicines are poisons, they only thing that makes them useful is the dose. If we want patients to voluntarily accept these poisons, it is a Pharmacist’s role to ensure this as done as safely as possible. Afterall, the ancient Greek work from which the word pharmacy is derived, (φάρμᾰκον) pharmakon, means both cure and poison depending on the context.
Did anyone inspire you to progress your career, such as a work colleague?
Working at a few different organisations you get to meet a lot of people from different backgrounds in different professions. The biggest inspiration is always the trainees you come across, you are their role model and their inspiration.
Special people met along the way include (and this is not exhaustive) Dr David Bailey at the Welsh School of Pharmacy, Alan Christian at Boots, Mike Pollard at Wrexham Maelor, Roger Skews at Royal Shrewsbury, Carole Blackshaw at Keele and Dr Warren Perks. Many more friends have been made along the way including a Pharmacy technician who married me.
What is your job now?
Senior Pharmacist (Education and Training) at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
What would you say to anyone thinking of joining the NHS or to anyone thinking their future career development?
The NHS isn’t what it used to be. It’s bigger. It used to be Community Pharmacy or hospital pharmacy (or industry if you were that way inclined). The NHS has woken up to the benefits and harm of medicines and the cost of poorly utilised treatment (physical, mental and financial). The NHS has woken up to the part that Pharmacists and Pharmacy technicians are able to play in managing those benefits and harms. Doctors and other healthcare professionals now actively seek out the skills and knowledge that Pharmacy has to improve care for patients. The opportunities for Pharmacy staff are everywhere. As I was once told “you are pretty much guaranteed a job when you make it on to the register”.