My Job – Mike Ewens

Dr Michael Ewens

What else have you done in your career so far?

I was a Clinical Leadership Fellow for the academic year 2019/20. This enabled me to see how a large health organisation is structured. This has improved my understanding on how my future role as a Consultant can impact the Trust I work in.

I enjoyed being a Peer Mentor for an interim FY1 Doctor last year, and I’m currently looking at how I can share what I have learned from my leadership experience with other trainees.

What’s the best thing about your job? What is the one thing you would change at

Chief Registrar and ST5 Registrar in Sexual Health & HIV Medicine, has worked for the Trust for 6 years

Summarise the main aspects of your role?

Sexual Health offers me the chance to help some of the most vulnerable in society: teenagers, the elderly, people who inject drugs, and the LGBTQ+ and BAME communities. Health promotion is at the heart of my job, as well as treating sexually transmitted infections and the medical comorbidities that can result.

I am privileged to be able to actively recruit into trials, and teach an array of health professionals about STIs. I have a keen interest in improving the quality of care we give to patients. As Chief Registrar, my main role is to listen to the concerns of Junior Doctors and act as an advocate for all non-Consultant grade doctors. My main aim is to increase the visibility of the role, and help disseminate opportunities to trainees through the Junior Doctor Body, including

Every day is different. Sometimes just having a chat with a patient and taking the time to listen can make the biggest difference.

management, research, and quality improvement.

LTHT to help you do your job better?

Tricky one! Engaging trainees to feel a part of LTHT would help disseminate information easier (as Chief Reg), and hopefully encourage them to want to stay as Consultants, Associate Specialists, or GPs in the region.

What’s your best advice to a new starter at the Trust?

Enjoy your time here. It is truly amazing. Once you are settled into your area of work there are so many opportunities for you to be involved with the wider Trust, including the BAME and LGBTQ+ Networks, the Junior Doctor Body, Leeds Improvement Method, and more!

Employee Support Fund helps staff through financial hardship

The Employee Support Fund was set up to support staff who may be experiencing financial hardship. It has always been available for staff across the Trust to access, but has recently been supported by an additional £25,000 grant from Leeds Cares, given by NHS Charities Together. Leeds Cares has since provided an additional £10,000 top-up donation, allowing the fund to support even more people.

Between June and August, 57 applications to the fund had been approved by the review panel and support grants have been provided that totalled nearly £26,000. One beneficiary said: “The fact that you were there, without judging me, has lifted a tremendous weight off my shoulders. I cannot thank you enough.” If any LTHT member of staff has faced a change in financial circumstances recently - perhaps as a result of COVID-19 or otherwise - the Employee Support Fund exists to help that colleague through it. Anyone can apply, including bank and locum staff, as long as they currently work at one of the LTHT hospital sites. Applications for the fund can be made by emailing leedsth-tr.humanresources@nhs. net or there is an application form on the Health and Wellbeing area of the Intranet. Each application will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and will always remain entirely confidential.