Meet some of our staff

Name: David Carpenter

Department: Ocular prosthetics

What does your job involve?

Some children may be born with no eyes or eyes that haven’t grown properly. Some may lose an eye because of an accident, or it has to be removed because of disease. Due to these reasons, they will need an artificial eye to replace it. My job as an ocularist is to make and fit a special eye for someone who has lost their real one.

Describe your typical working day for us:

I oversee a team of five ocularists. We start to arrive at work from 8am. After a quick cup of tea, it’s straight down to the business of manufacturing special eyes. At around 10am, our first patients arrive for a fitting. It can take up to two hours to fit each patient with a prosthesis – their new, artificial eye. We’re kept very busy throughout the day making more special eyes and seeing more patients, some of whom come from other hospital clinics to have their prosthesis checked or serviced. When I get a chance, I grab a bite to eat and have another cup of tea.

What are the good points of your job?  

I love to meet patients and watch their progress over the years. For instance, some of our patients arrived as babies, brought here by their parents. We’ve watched them grow up, go through school and into adulthood and have their own children. Many of our patients share special moments with us by sending us photos, which we keep in a library. It gives us great pleasure to think that we have been able to play a role in their lives. 

Any bad points?

Well, I’m quite sure there are better paid jobs. It’s not really a career for those looking to make their fortune.

What sort of person do you have to be?

There is a degree of skill and artistry involved, so you must enjoy painting and crafting with different materials. Being a good listener is also very important.

How did you get into it?

Some of our ocularists began in dentistry, where the techniques and materials are very similar. Others have come from the arts, and some from a nursing background

What should I do to try getting a job like yours?

First, get all the information available to help decide if it really is a career that you wish to pursue. Then get the very best training you can before finding an employer.

Name: Nik West

Department: Electrophysiology

What does your job involve?
Electrophysiology is the study of the electrical properties of biological cells and tissues. The cells and tissues I’m interested in are those of the eye. As a technician, I have to guide my patients carefully through various tests using a wide range of specialist equipment. I perform the first analysis of each test and document the results before a specialist consultant takes a look.

Describe your typical working day for us:
Each morning I begin by unlocking the test rooms, switching on the equipment and checking the appointments to see how many patients we can expect and which tests they require. Soon after 9am we see our first patient of the day and will perform tests until midday when we take a half hour lunch break. We then prepare to see our second patient at 1pm and, on a busy day, may see two patients in one afternoon. By 4.30pm we’re finished with testing, and will take the opportunity to address other work such as printing test results and general paperwork. I try to leave work by 5pm, but not before turning off all equipment and ensuring that the rooms are nice and tidy in preparation for the next day.

What are the good points of your job?
Our patients come from all walks of life, and many of them prove to be interesting people. Because some have very poor vision, and may have difficulty communicating, testing can sometimes be challenging. But having to use my initiative is an aspect of the job which I enjoy.

Any bad points?
Only that the testing may be quite prolonged, which can be tiring for technicians and patients alike.

What sort of person do you have to be?
You need to be dextrous, hard-working and tolerant. Good communication and listening skills are a must, as well as an eye for detail and the ability to put knowledge into practice. 

How did you get into it?
I did three science A-Levels, a medical biology degree (BSc) and six months of on-the-job training.

 Careers info:

www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
The British Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (BRISCEV) www.briscev.org.uk

What is it?

Medical research means exploring, experimenting and studying in order to create new knowledge. Its purpose is to help improve patient care.

When is this carried out?

A medical researcher tries to find answers to important questions. An example would be to discover if there is any truth in the idea that people who wear glasses are somehow more intelligent than those who don’t.

What does it offer?

Doctors and other healthcare professionals present the results of their research at conferences and write about them in medical journals. They discuss their findings, and if all agree that the research really shows that a new treatment is better than the current one, the new treatment can replace the old one. These changes can benefit many patients.

What happens during the research?

The most useful medical research is carried out through an experiment called a Randomised Control Trial. Researchers ask patients to take part in the experiment and divide them randomly into two groups. Each group uses a different treatment to see if they respond in a way that the other group does not.

Let’s say, for example, that we wish to test a drug to see whether or not it can cure an eye disease. One group of patients might receive eye drops containing the drug we want to test, and the other group will receive eye drops with no active ingredient, which is known as a ‘placebo’. The patients have no idea which group they belong to, or which eye drops they are taking.  When enough patients have participated, the researchers examine all the patients. If the group that has taken the active drug shows a greater improvement than the placebo group, the researchers conclude that the drug has a genuinely beneficial effect.  However, if the treatment group does not improve more than the placebo group, then the drug has no special value.

Name: Moya Lord

Department: Admin office

What does your job involve?

When a patient has visited the hospital it’s up to me to ensure that all their updated medical information is processed and delivered to the relevant person or services. By liaising closely with other services and hospitals I try to ensure the patient receives the best care possible.

Describe your typical working day for us

I help support the medical team by undertaking general administrative work. So throughout the day I might type up clinic letters, open mail, register patients, open referrals on the computer, answer the phone and liaise with patients and other services. Clinic days can be especially busy, when I find myself dealing with urgent enquiries and correspondence for the consultant. I’ll also organise and attend meetings, which involves typing up agendas and taking minutes.

What are the good points of your job?

It’s always so busy that there’s little chance of ever being bored. You get a real lift when you have helped someone, knowing that you’ve been able to make a positive difference to their lives.

Any bad points?

There’s never time to simply relax.  It would be nice, now and then, to be able to sit back and have the pleasure of knowing that all your work is done and completely up to date.

What sort of person do you have to be?

You have to be quite organised and know how to prioritise because things that require urgent attention come up all the time. Delays and mistakes can affect the treatment a patient receives and so, even with such a heavy workload, you must be conscientious. As a result, medical secretaries are often a little older and more experienced than the average secretary – but not always!

How did you get into it?

When my children were younger I wanted to update my office skills before returning to the workplace. I’d always wanted to work in a caring environment. So I decided to do a full time AMSPAR diploma course, which is a recognised qualification for medical secretaries and practice managers. I did some temping to see if I liked the job and, when I discovered that I did, applied for a vacancy.

What should I do to try getting a job like yours?

 If you are already a secretary, learning some medical terminology would be helpful before joining an agency and temping for a while. You could, of course, take the route I did by enrolling on an AMSPAR course. If you already have an admin job within the NHS you could try ‘floating’ which would give you good experience and help you get used to the lingo.

Name: Reshma Pattani

What does your job involve?

I carry out eye tests on our patients to see whether they might need spectacles. I may also show them other visual aids such as magnifiers, specialist spectacles or telescopes.

Describe your typical working day for us:

I actually work for Moorfields part-time, and spend the rest of my week either at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children or in private practice. But at the start of each week you’ll find me at Mile End hospital, where Moorfields has a networked site. There I work in a cataract clinic providing eye tests before and after cataract surgery and often assisting doctors in their diagnoses. After a busy morning clinic, the team heads back to Moorfields in City Road to spend the rest of the day checking patients’ vision and testing for spectacles. For those who cannot achieve good vision with spectacles we consider other optical aids such as magnifiers.

What are the good points of your job?

Being able to enhance a patient’s sight, and therefore their life, with the aid of spectacles and magnifying aids is very rewarding. At Moorfields I am able to work within a specialist optometry department who provide excellent guidance and support.

Any bad points?

No real downside comes to mind.

What sort of person do you have to be?

Enthusiastic and happy to face challenges.

How did you get into it?

Having worked in a private practice for two years I felt the urge to do something different too. When Moorfields advertised this part-time post I applied and, thankfully, was successful.

What should I do to try get a job like yours?

A degree in optometry is required and some experience in hospital optometry might work to your advantage.

Name: Penelope O’Hara

Department: Service delivery unit

What does your job involve?

As the assistant general manager for the paediatrics service, my role is to provide the best service possible to patients and their families.

Describe your typical working day for us:

Busy!  Besides paediatrics, I manage three adult services so life is never dull.  I make sure I visit the areas I manage to see the staff and find out if everything is running smoothly.  I attend meetings about all sorts of issues – IT, waiting times, performance, team meetings, 1:1s with my staff – the list goes on!  I set aside time each day to catch up on paperwork and emails. I make sure I visit the clinics as often as I can to observe what happens.  I also seem to spend at least some part of my day guiding patients towards their destination, which I find quite rewarding as it means I maintain some patient contact.

What are the good points of your job?

Making a difference to the patients, their families and careers; seeing the changes discussed at meetings actually taking place; making someone smile!

Any bad points?

On the odd day there seems there is not enough time to see everyone/do everything I need to. It is not a 9-5 job.

What sort of person do you have to be?

A person with lots of energy and enthusiasm – you need a good pair of flat shoes in this job to cope with all the walking! Also someone who genuinely cares about their patients and making a difference to their lives.

How did you get into it?

I originally trained as a medical secretary and have worked my way up through a series of junior operational roles.  I am working towards a degree currently but have almost 27 years experience in the health service behind me, which has proved invaluable. 

What should I do to try getting a job like yours?

I hope the way in which I have arrived at this post would inspire others to take the plunge and aim for the same. I think anyone with a desire to make a change and who enjoys working with people would be suitable. 

Name: M Hameed

Department: Pharmacy

What does your job involve?

As the senior clinical services pharmacist, I am responsible for managing our hospital’s pharmacy services. That means I have to oversee all the medication which the hospital gives to patients either on the wards, in the clinics or at the dispensary. I also ensure that our stocks of drugs are maintained and am responsible for our policy and procedures for all drugs.

Describe your typical working day for us:

Many of our drugs have to be refrigerated, so at the start of each day I’ll check that the fridge temperatures are correct, that we have a good supply of drugs, and that any outstanding issues from the previous day are addressed. During pharmacy opening hours I advise patients on their medication, liaise with healthcare professionals such as GPs and contribute to the decision-making process with other clinical staff. At some point in the day I may have to attend a meeting about drugs at the hospital.

What are the good points of your job?

I greatly enjoy working closely with doctors and nurses to help our patients get better.

Any bad points?

Where drugs are involved you cannot make any mistakes. You have to be completely focused on the job for long periods without ever letting your mind wander or be distracted.

What sort of person do you have to be?

The job demands great attention to detail, so you must be the kind of person who is able to really concentrate hard on what they are doing for hours at a time. You should also be conscientious and enjoy working with others.

How did you get into it?

When I was younger I did work experience in a pharmacy. I stayed and worked through the ranks, obtaining relevant qualifications such as a Master of Pharmacy followed by further postgraduate qualifications.

What should I do to try getting a job like yours?

You need to apply to a pharmacy school to study for a degree. But you could first see if you can find work in a community or hospital pharmacy to gain experience.

Careers info

www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk

What is it? 

Your medical record, or patient notes, is all the paperwork concerning your medical history and health care to date. The term is used to describe both the physical folder created for each individual patient and the actual information it contains.

Medical records are private documents. There are laws to protect them from being used or accessed by other people, and laws to say how long they have to be kept and where they are to be stored.

Traditionally, medical records have been written on paper and kept in folders. These folders are divided into useful sections, with new information added to keep a chronological account of the patient’s medical history. Records are usually kept at the hospital but those of older patients or people who have died may exist only on the computer. The plan is to eventually have everyone’s records kept on a computer database rather than paper, but this is a massive project that won’t be accomplished for many years yet.

Why is a medical record needed?

The information contained in your medical record allows us to give you continued care. The medical record also serves many other purposes. It records the care and services you have received and helps with the planning of your care. It has copies of the messages exchanged between the health care provider and any other health professional contributing to your care. It also helps protect the legal interests of you and the health care providers responsible for your care. In addition, medical records may be used to help teach medical students, provide information for an internal review of the hospital, or assist with medical research.

What does my medical record contain?

The contents of your medical record will naturally be different to anyone else’s, but all records will usually contain information such as a patient's hospital identification and other details such as their date of birth and gender. Your medical record will also include your unique health history and any symptoms you have described to the doctor, the results of any medical tests or examinations you have had, the medications you have been prescribed, and plans for your care in the future.

What is it? 

We all know what play is but it is not simply about having fun. Play has long been recognised as a vital part of child development because it helps us learn and experience new things. Within a hospital, encouraging children to play whilst they wait to be seen by doctors and nurses can be very productive. 

When is this carried out?

If you are being treated at an eye hospital there will usually be times when you have to wait. This is especially likely if you need to see more than one medical professional in a single visit or are going to have an operation that day.

What does play offer?

Apart from being distracting and fun, play can enhance a child’s wellbeing and development, as we often learn new things and new skills as we play.

What happens during play?

Within the hospital there are often specially assigned play areas with toys, games and computers available for children of all ages to use. Staff, called play specialists, are responsible for overseeing these areas and ensuring that children get the most out of them.

For children with very poor eyesight, there are toys specifically designed for their needs which may make sounds or be interesting to touch. There are also books in Braille for those children who are blind.

The play specialists will try to make any child’s visit to the hospital as pleasant as possible. They engage children and families in activities within designated play areas or on the ward by the child’s bedside. Through constructive play, they aim to help children adjust to being in hospital and get used to undergoing tests and treatments.

What is it? 

One of the main goals of the NHS is to attend to patients as quickly as possible. In order to achieve that goal, we take note of how long patients find themselves waiting before they are able to access our services. That includes reporting on the length of time it takes to get a date for an outpatient appointment, some diagnostic tests and also for operation dates. 

When is this report carried out?

Some of the reports are run weekly and some are issued monthly. Because the reports are all performed regularly, they give us a clear picture of our current situation and whether patients are having to wait too long. If we do spot a service with a long waiting time we can try taking action to sort it out so that patients are seen sooner.

Why look at waiting times?

We are always looking to improve the quality of our service for our patients. People tell us that the amount of time they wait before they get an appointment is important to them, so we work hard to keep any delay to a minimum. By measuring waiting times regularly, we can discover exactly where improvements need to be made. 

In addition, there will always be patients who are sent to an eye hospital because they have serious eye conditions which require immediate treatment. For these patients we need to make sure that services can be made immediately available, sometimes at a moment’s notice.

Which waiting times are measured?

When we measure our waiting times we look at different areas of our service. We examine the amount of time it takes for patients to be seen in our hospital clinic after being sent to us from their GPs. Also, if a patient is being seen at the hospital and a doctor decides they need an operation, we keep an eye on the amount of time the patient must wait until they get that operation. We also have some complex machines that perform diagnostics. We need to monitor those waits too to make sure patients can access services when they need to.