International Nurses Day - Celebrating nurses in the independent health sector - Independent Healthcare Provider ...

International Nurses Day
Celebrating nurses in the independent health sector

Introduction

There are currently almost 20,000 nurses working in the independent healthcare sector who
deliver care to millions of NHS and private patients every year.

Independent sector nurses hold a wide variety of roles, from delivering hospital treatment such
as cancer care or elective surgery, to supporting patients in their homes and communities (or
even in prisons), as well as training the wider workforce and putting in place the right safety and
governance processes to improve the quality of patient care.

Here are just some of the inspiring stories of nurses working in
the independent sector today.

     Gemma Bond
     Director of Nursing, Partnering Health Ltd
     I was working in a nursing home at the age of 16 years old and I was
     inspired by the small things that made a difference to the resident’s
     care and quality of life. There was such huge reward in this role that
     I decided I wanted to be a nurse. Aged 18 off I went to the University
     of Brighton for the start of one of my best adventures.

     My journey has gone from Staff Nurse, Community Matron, Nurse
     Practitioner, Service Development Lead, Lecturer Practitioner,
     Clinical Director all where I have focussed on challenging traditional
     practice, pushing boundaries to drive quality improvement. There are
     many proud moments in my journey winning Nurse of the Year for
     Surrey, Sussex and Kent, a service innovation award and featuring in NHS 60 celebration book of the
     extraordinary work the NHS does.

     In my role now I provide clinical leadership to inspire and motivate others to deliver clinical excellence in
     that every patient life that is touched by of our clinicians receives the highest quality and safe care.

                      I have been so fortunate to have had amazing role models in my nursing
                      career at every step of the way to enable me to flourish to where I am today as
                      an Executive Director of Nursing and Quality for Partnering Health Limited.

                      Gemma Bond, Director of Nursing, Partnering Health Ltd

Harriet Lennon
Learning and Development Specialist, Nuffield Health
My main source of inspiration to become a nurse came from my
mum who has had a lifelong career in nursing. I couldn’t see myself
doing anything other than following in her footsteps..

My career at Nuffield Health began 5 years ago where I worked at our
Shrewsbury Hospital. With a passion for Nurse Education I made the
move into the Academy Team where I have worked for the past two
and a half years as Learning and Development Specialist.

My main focus within the Clinical Education Team has been the
development of our clinical apprenticeship pathway, including the
development of the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship and
Nurse Associate Apprenticeship. I provide academic and pastoral support to our apprentices and often
work alongside them in clinical practice, and I also teach on the international recruitment project and
support our international nurses. I am extremely passionate about Nurse Education and have recently
been shortlisted for Nurse Educator of the year at the Student Nurse Times Awards 2022.

                 As a Learning and Development Specialist there is nothing more rewarding
                 than seeing our clinical apprentices flourish in their new roles and make a
                 significant impact to patient care.

                 Harriet Lennon, Learning and Development Specialist, Nuffield Health

Hayley White
111 Clinical advisor, Practice Plus Group
After college a friend of mine said she wanted to go to university to be a nurse and I thought “oh I
could do that, how hard can it be”. Little did I know at 19 that I would be taken on the hardest but
most rewarding journey of my life.

I have worked in various specialities since I qualified in 2012 including a medical assessment unit, heart
and lung surgery, A+E and disability assessments. But it was in 2018 when I joined Practice Plus Group
as a clinical advisor carrying out telephone triage for patients for their 111 service where I really found my
passion within nursing and what I would like to do for the rest of my career.

Telephone triage has challenged me to think differently as most nursing is traditionally based around
physically assessing the patient.

                 It is a privilege to be able to help people either manage their symptoms at
                 home or being that voice at the end of the phone in one of the worst days of
                 their lives.

                 Hayley White, 111 Clinical advisor, Practice Plus Group

Helen Burndred
Lead Nurse, VeinCentre
After dropping out of university, realising that I had little interest in
the Business Management and Sports Science degree, I decided
to train to become a nurse. I qualified in 2002 at Keele University
School of Nursing and Midwifery and worked in a variety of settings
within the NHS.

In 2012 I developed a special interest in vein treatment while working
at the North Staffordshire Nuffield Hospital and joined Veincentre
later that year. I had become frustrated watching doctors do what
I believed I and many nurses could do, and therefore I underwent a
comprehensive training programme that included extensive hands-on
training in all the techniques offered by Veincentre including foam sclerotherapy, microsclerotherapy,
EVLA and Clarivein. I augmented this in-house training by visiting centres across the UK and in Europe to
gain further experience and became one of the first nurses to undertake Endovenous Laser Ablation for
varicose veins.

I now have extensive experience and expertise in both diagnostic ultrasound scanning and have
successfully undertaken over 2000 ultrasound guided venous interventions. A key part of my role now is
helping train new consultants and nurses who join our company and ensuring the highest level of care is
maintained.

                 After two decades as a nurse I still have my love of nursing and delivering
                 the best care, and in 2016 I was shortlisted for the Nursing Times Surgical
                 nurse of the year. All other nominations within my category were teams,
                 rather than an individual, so I felt incredibly proud.

                 Helen Burndred, Lead Nurse, VeinCentre

Jade Fotheringham
Theatre Lead, The Edinburgh Clinic
As theatre lead I am responsible for a small team and while my role involves many different
responsibilities but the part I will always love most is scrubbing for surgical procedures.

Nursing can be very rewarding. Feeling appreciation from patients, relatives and colleagues is satisfying
and as a nurse I have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others by giving care in their
time of need.

                 I get to help people in a very direct hands-on way and even nine years on
                 I am still learning new procedures which really motivates me.

                 Jade Fotheringham, Theatre Lead, The Edinburgh Clinic

Laura Scarborough
Gynaecology oncology clinical nurse specialist, The London Clinic
I will always remember the day I had my first nursing interview and job offer - International Nurses
Day 2014. Since then I have developed from a staff nurse working in the Lincolnshire countryside to a
clinical nurse specialist in gynaecology oncology at The London Clinic - something I could have only
ever dreamed of.

When I tell people what my job the reaction is always ‘eurgh, that must be tough’. And it is. Cancer care
doesn’t always go how we wish it would. I often have to support the consultants in breaking bad news, I
often have to counsel the patient; their husbands; their children that unfortunately treatment isn’t working
or their disease has returned.

But I remind myself that I have been fortunate that these families are letting me into their lives at their
most vulnerable and that I am able to help make their time as good as possible for as long as possible.
During their treatment

“I am the patient’s safe place; their go-to person. I support not only the
patient but their families throughout their treatment”
helping to ensure that they are receiving the best possible holistic care they deserve. I will always be
grateful that I get to go to work every day and do what I love.

Lauren Mitchard
Tissue Viability Specialist Nurse, HCRG Care Group
When I was a student nurse I don’t think I ever imagined I would be where I am now. When I qualified I
followed my love of community nursing and got my first community staff nurse post.

Unfortunately, for various reasons I wasn’t happy and after a year and a half I left my job to consider my
options. I decided to take one last chance on nursing and I applied for a community nursing job at the
Hollies in Midsomer Norton. It was the best thing that ever happened to me - I fell in love with wound care
in the community and I suddenly felt after 5 years of being a community nurse that I wanted to specialise
in this area as I felt I could make a real difference. Luckily a tissue viability nurse (TVN) job opportunity
came up within a year of deciding I wanted to specialise. I can honestly say it’s been the best opportunity
I have ever been given, and I am in the process of re-designing a service to improve leg ulcer care in
the Keynsham area. In the future I want to continue working closely with all teams to provide thorough,
evidence based and timely care and I also hope that I can be a role model to other nurses. We can do
anything if we set our minds to it.

Reb Kean
Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Practice Plus Group
I qualified as a nurse in 1997 and initially worked within the NHS in
HIV/GU medicine. I was really keen to progress but in those days
there was not a clear pathway for nurses to progress into advanced
practice roles and after a decade began to look at a number of ways
of leaving nursing.

I studied for an advanced practice qualification, then a post-graduate
law degree and later graduated from medical school, however I felt like
I had not found somewhere or something that was a good fit for me.

I was working as a lecturer in a medical school when I saw the
Advanced Nurse Practitioner in a prison job advertised and I knew
immediately that this would be a challenging role that I would really enjoy. I have worked as an ANP in a
prison now for nearly three years and I LOVE it!

                 It is very challenging, and working within a prison can be difficult at
                 times for all sorts of reasons but I can honestly say it is the best job I
                 have ever had. I get to make a significant difference to the lives of very
                 disadvantaged people.

                 Reb Kean, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Practice Plus Group

Sarah Kirkness
Haematology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at HCA UK
at University College Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK

“The best thing about being a clinical nurse
specialist is being able to develop unique bonds
with your patients, and their families and carers,
at one of the hardest times in their lives.”
In a professional capacity you are there from the start of their journey,
responsible for guiding them through their diagnosis and treatment
therapies and empowering them to manage and overcome what
seems, at the start, insurmountable.

During this time, you get to know your patient on a personal level as well, understanding the importance
and significance of birthdays, family graduations and new grandchildren. For a moment in time, you
become part of their lives and their support system and that, for me, is a huge privilege.

Dawn Hodgkins
Director of Regulation, IHPN
I am currently Director of Regulation at IHPN and my nursing
background in the NHS and independent sector has undoubtedly
given me the necessary skills to work with members and other key
stakeholders such as the DHSC, PHIN and CQC to further improve
the quality and safety of the independent health sector.

I began my career as a hospital matron and I loved working directly
with patients and their families, whilst also having the ability to set the
highest clinical standards at my hospital.

The highlight of my week as Director of Regulation, is our Wednesday
morning call when I get to listen to Chief Nurses and clinical leaders
from across the whole independent sector share their experiences and approaches to delivering innovative,
high quality service for patients and how they are supporting the training of the future workforce.

The Independent Healthcare Providers
Network (IHPN) is the representative
body for independent sector healthcare
providers. Our members deliver a very
diverse range of services to NHS and private
patients including acute care, primary care,
community care, clinical home healthcare,
diagnostics and dentistry.

To learn more about this document and
about IHPN, please contact us.

T.   07540 413 802

E.   info@ihpn.org.uk

W. ihpn.org.uk