It's Allied Health Professional Day! Meet some of UHDB's brilliant AHPs
Today (Monday 14 October) is Allied Health Professional (AHP) Day, highlighting the key role AHPs play in the NHS and delivering exceptional care to our patients and communities. We want to take this opportunity to celebrate the roles and contributions of our AHP professions at UHDB by shining a light on the amazing work they do.
As the third-largest clinical workforce in health and care, AHPs are crucial in supporting the NHS Long-Term Plan. By delivering care that is safe and of high quality as well as being grounded in research, evidence, and innovation they make a real difference to people and communities. This year's AHP day key theme is quality and safety.
AHP information stalls at Royal Derby Hospital (RDH) and Queen's Hospital Burton (QHB)
Seema Rughani, AHP and Healthcare Scientists Workforce Lead at UHDB, and team will have a stand on Monday 14 October at the main entrance of RDH and outside the main restaurant in QHB from 9am-4pm. Colleagues and visitors can learn more our different AHP professions, their roles and their key part in providing patient-centred care.
A look at AHP colleagues at UHDB and their roles
Meet Nicola Hughes, a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) in the Adult Acute Team at RDH.
Nicola said she became an SLT as she wanted to work in a hospital and help people during their most difficult times.
"Eating, drinking and communicating are some of our most basic human needs therefore SLTs are lucky enough to be able to have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. We assess patients with dysphagia (swallowing problems) to try to reduce the risk of aspiration (food and drink 'going down the wrong way' on to the lungs which can cause a chest infection or aspiration pneumonia) and therefore improve the safety of their swallowing."
As well as the hands-on elements to her role Nicola is one of the acute clinical leads for dysphagia and trains the newly qualified SLTs in dysphagia assessments so they're able to assess more complicated patients under all differed specialities.
"I contribute to quality and safety by providing advice and support to my colleagues and have written new guidelines that improve the quality and safety of patient care, most recently on the respiratory wards and on the intensive care unit.
I love being an SLT because no one day is the same and there is always plenty of work! I chose to come to work at UHDB because it is a large, dynamic trust with a variety of specialities. The SLT team is also known to be enthusiastic and supportive. I have worked for the Trust for over 20 years now and have progressed from a newly qualified band 5 to a band 7."
Peter Jurczak decided to become an AHP as a renal dietician at UHDB.
He said it is a career that demands continuous learning and improvement to ensure the best patient care is always given; particularly important when working with patients with kidney disease.
"We contribute to quality and safety by ensuring that patients are screened and monitored for malnutrition and biochemical abnormalities related to diet. We implement appropriate dietetic plans to ensure patient safety and best outcomes alongside the medical team."
Every colleague at UHDB is supported in their personal development and have opportunities through training and apprenticeships to further their careers.
Peter explains how he joined the trust as a dietetic assistant and was given the training support to enhance his career.
"After several years there was an opportunity to complete an apprenticeship and become a fully qualified dietitian. I am very grateful for this career path, as without the support with training, I would have had to leave the healthcare sector.
"The best part about being a renal dietitian is the opportunity to speak and engage with people daily. There is an opportunity to get to know patients very well, as they could be under your care on dialysis for many years."
As well as patient facing roles there are many behind the scenes AHP colleagues across UHDB as Chris Sharpe, AHP Quality Manager/Superintendent Therapeutic Radiographer tells us.
"When I was treating patients, I was helping them through a difficult time in their lives and now that I'm working in quality management I feel like I'm supporting the front line staff in keeping them and the patients safe whilst having involvement in the implementation of new techniques and systems.
"I work across the multi-professional Clinical Teams, Principal Superintendents, Senior Radiotherapy Team and Team Leaders to support the integration of Clinical Effectiveness and new developments into Radiotherapy and smooth implementation of new technology."
After originally starting his career as a therapeutic radiographer he saw the role of Quality Manager come up at UHDB and thought it would offer something different and be a challenge giving him a different perspective of radiotherapy.
"I chose Radiotherapy because I wanted a career that made a difference to people's lives. I had family members who've been through cancer treatment so to me it made sense to follow this avenue. Through my training I felt staff at the University and placement site were invested in me and wanted to see me succeed which was a big confidence boost.
"I manage the Q-Pulse Quality Management System and also internal audits within the Radiotherapy department. I am involved in clinical governance in Radiotherapy - including Health & Safety, Risk and Professional Issues.
"What I like most is that every day really is different. As much as I try you can't plan for what might crop up and I have to be very flexible."