> STAFF NOTICES > welcome TO... Cathy O’Driscoll Coming from a career background in the investment banking and manufacturing sector, Cathy O’Driscoll has joined us as Head of Learning and Organisational Development. Originally from Ireland, Cathy came to England after university intending to stay for a short while, but 26 years later, after marrying “an Essex husband and having an Essex son”, is proud to call Southend her home. With personal experience of the excellent care the NHS can provide, Cathy is excited to now be working within the health service and helping our teams develop and achieve their full potential. > Goodbye... Rachael Salton,
Housekeeper For the short time that Rachael has worked for the Renal Unit she has gained confidence and respect from both staff and patients. She has decided to further her career and start her adult nurse training. The unit say she will be sadly missed and wish her good luck and every success with her training.
> Goodbye... claire hankey,
Head of communications Claire has worked as Head of Communications at Southend for over four years and is leaving us to start her secondment with the Success Regime team, managing communications for the acute workstream. In her time here Claire has always been there to advise and support the Executive Team and has seen the Trust through some tricky times, although, as her team point out, something always happens ‘when Claire’s not there’ – remember the grenade anyone? Claire has made it her mission to maintain our reputation while building and nurturing a strong team who are going to miss her terribly.
> EVENT: Christmas craft and gift fair
Southend Hospital Charity will be hosting its annual Christmas Craft and Gift Fair on Sunday 6 November (10.30am – 4pm). The event is in aid of our Paediatric Department and is being held at Mill Hall, Bellingham Lane in Rayleigh (free parking). Tickets cost £1.50 (adults) and children under 16 enter for free.
> CORRECTION: Goodbye.. elaine white,
STAFF NURSE In the last issue of The Look, we published some incorrect details. Elaine has retired after 43 years of nursing. For the last five and a half years she worked for the Main Outpatients department at the Trust.
8 the Look
CLOSER LOOK This month we meet Dr Sabri Abu Bakar, Consultant at the Sexual Health & HIV department of Southend Hospital. Tell us about yourself I was appointed Consultant at the Sexual Health & HIV Department of Southend Hospital in 2013. Before that I did my speciality training in sexual health at Guys & St Thomas and Chelsea & Westminster hospitals. I live in Knightsbridge and commute to Southend Hospital by train every day. I also do a lot of charity work for children and for cancer services in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Another activity that I am proud of is that I review hotels on a freelance basis for a variety of travel magazines from my extensive international travel. What does your job involve? My main role is the day to day management of the department involving screening , diagnosing ,treating and giving general advice on sexual health issues to patients. I am also the clinical audit lead for the department, HIV governance lead and MRCP PACES tutor for the Trust. What do you enjoy most? I enjoy the daily contact with patients of different background and sexual orientation within the hospital community. I deal with sensitive and private issues and offer them reassurance and understanding since sexual health and HIV are still heavily stigmatised within some communities. What are the best bits about your role? I am blessed with a wonderful team who are more like a family and we share the same vision of delivering the best possible care to our patients. What work achievement are you most proud of? We recently introduced a HIV Point of care finger blood test and results are available within 20 minutes. Before this patients had to wait up to seven working days for the results of a venepuncture blood test. The test will encourage more high risk individuals and the needle phobic to take the test which is so important as Southend has the highest prevalence of HIV in the East of England.
October 2016