To celebrate International Women’s Day, we will be highlighting the work of some women at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust who make a huge difference to our organisation and community, ensuring that patient care is the top priority in what they do.
Oroog Ali, consultant colorectal surgeon and lead robotic colorectal surgeon has been instrumental in implementing and running the robotic surgery programme at Gateshead Health:
I am delighted that we have been able to start robot-assisted surgery at Gateshead Health to help our patients. The surgical robot allows us to perform operations using an advanced minimally invasive technique, which comes with a reduced risk of complications. This means those having surgery will be expected to go home earlier, and have less pain leading to a faster recovery and quicker return to normal activity.
The future of surgery lies within the use of technology to advance surgical techniques. The robotic system is a tool that is controlled by the surgeon throughout the operation. It has high-definition 3D views and advanced instrumentation to allow precision in surgery.”
Oroog Ali, consultant colorectal surgeon and lead robotic colorectal surgeon
Oroog works alongside an exceptional team including Fiona McClintock, Sue Dickens, Lois Lincoln, and Emma Glancey. The team performed the first case in July 2022 and as of today, they have completed more than 150 robot-assisted surgeries with ambitions to keep innovating and striving for future excellence.
Susie Chrystal, specialist nurse in critical care rehabilitation has been instrumental in developing new innovations to help patients in critical care to recover. She has helped create a new digital device that will help the recovery process of patients in critical care and worked on an innovative new chair to take critical care patients from lying flat to being fully seated.
I am proud of all the work we do to humanise care in the critical care department which is a place that can be a difficult and scary place for patients and relatives. We find out about people’s interests using an ‘introduction to me’ leaflet which we ask family members to complete, this guides our conversations and informs the care we give. Our mobile entertainment and rehabilitation device ‘RITA’ provides stimulation, comfort and physical activities tailored to patients’ interests. As a team we try to take patients outside, even, at times when they are still receiving ventilation. Later this year we opening courtyard which will grow to be a green haven for patients, relatives and staff.
I couldn’t do my job without the critical care rehabilitation team which contains some very inspirational women, Sonia Elliott, Claire Hall and Ruth Smith.
Susie Chrystal, specialist nurse in critical care rehabilitation
Sharon Denise Clark, lead nurse and joint service lead for Colposcopy has worked for Gateshead Health for six years and was the first nurse specialist within Colposcopy. Outside of her role, Sharon works with the screening quality assurance team for NHS England as a professional clinical adviser, where she supports in reviewing services across the North East and North West.
A large proportion of my role is clinical – reviewing ladies with changes to the cervix, vagina and vulva whether that be from screening or symptomatic referrals. A great deal of my time is also spent overseeing the running and management of our service alongside our senior team and ensuring our high quality standards are met and reflected across the team.
Alongside this, I am the lead trainer for the service – there is nothing quite like having that warm happy buzz seeing a trainee progress and develop – I thrive on nurturing and developing a high quality service and always looking to expand what we can offer the ladies of Gateshead and South Tyneside.
Sharon Denise Clark, lead nurse and joint service lead for Colposcopy
In 2022, Sharon was nominated for and won the Trust star awards for ‘Excellence in Learning’, which is a great achievement for her and her service. Sharon and her team also assist in initiatives to improve awareness of HPV, attending cervical screening and in the prevention of cancer of the cervix, vagina, and vulva. Most recently supporting a pilot project for a cervical screening bus that goes out into the community to raise awareness and facilitate early detection.
Marceline Ndam is a clinical educator with the international recruitment team and a national Core20Plus ambassador as well as Chief Nursing/Midwifery Officer for Black and Minority Ethnic Strategic Advisory Group for the North East and Yorkshire.
Marceline has had various roles within the Trust for eight years. As one of 3 clinical educators, the team support internationally educated nurses through their Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) preparation, ensuring that the nurses are fit for practice to progress towards achieving their registration and working as competent nurses.
One of my proudest moments is being awarded with the Chief Nursing Officer Silver Award for excellence in Nursing. This award recognised my contribution to improving staff experience and patient outcome in terms of clinical practice and tackling diversity and health inequalities.
Despite encountering challenges along the way, working at Gateshead for me has been positive so far. Gateshead has given me the opportunity to develop my nursing and leadership journey. I must admit, I couldn’t have done this without the strong support of some amazing and active allies and mentors. Thank you Gateshead Health.
Marceline Ndam, clinical educator with the international recruitment team
Victoria Pooley, Architectural Technician for the Capital Development Team at QE Facilities Ltd for sixteen years.
Victoria’s role involves carrying out the architectural design and project management of the capital work across all the Trusts sites. Over the years she has been involved in many projects and it feels it is pleasure to be part of the developments and improvements that are constantly being made to the hospital estate.
There are some really exciting projects happening at the moment like the new Community Diagnostic Centre at the Metrocentre. There aren’t many women in my field of work, hopefully we will start to see more women taking on these roles.
Victoria Pooley, Architectural Technician
Happy International Women’s Day! Thank you to all of the inspirational women at Gateshead Health who are working tirelessly to keep our patients safe and have the best possible experience when they are with us.