‘It helps to make a difference in people's lives’: our staff share why they work at CLCH
To celebrate the 75th year of the National Health Service, a camera crew toured our sites across London and Hertfordshire meeting staff dedicated to delivering brilliant patient care closer to home, showcasing the rewarding benefits of working in the community.
As the largest community healthcare trust in the country, the videos capture the range of specialist care delivered across London and Hertfordshire – shining a light on the breadth of communities we serve from new-borns to elderly residents.
They filmed health visitors and specialist lactation consultants at the Newminster Children’s Centre in Merton, therapists in Barnet Planned Care, the multidisciplinary team of staff delivering innovative care in Wandsworth and Merton’s Hospital at Home, and the community nurses in Hertfordshire.
Our staff spoke of the unique reward of working in community healthcare - being able to see the impact of their care on patients in their home environment. They demonstrated how working at CLCH was like being part of a community in itself, as teams looked out for the interests and growth of their colleagues as well as their patients.
Visiting the specialist team for breastfeeding at the Newminster Children’s Centre in Merton they saw two families’ lives changed as mothers were supported to breastfeed their new-borns successfully, helping to give these children a healthy start and their mothers confidence.
Health Visitor, Rachel Purvis said when people come in, ‘we offer advice and can reassure them so they can leave smiling’.
Lactation Consultant, Indira Lopez-Bassols demonstrated her love for her role: ‘to help a baby from the beginning of its life, it’s just incredible, I love it!’
Following the footsteps of the roving Hospital at Home team, comprising of GPs, physiotherapists, nurses and healthcare assistants, they saw how innovative ways of working and advanced monitoring equipment helped for Mr Hayes to receive hospital level care at home, where he could be with his wife. Senior Community Nurse, Alice Clements explained how being part of such a dynamic team has helped her develop a career in nursing, having wanted to be a nurse from a young age.
In Barnet they witnessed the positive impact that physiotherapists and occupational therapy can have on the ability to complete daily tasks. Barnet resident, Gita can now get in and out of the bath independently thanks to Physiotherapist Vinotha, who was praised endlessly by Gita’s daughter Varsha, for the support she’s provided. At Finchley Memorial Hospital the crew met a range of residents who attend regular exercise classes with the therapists in Barnet, led by Noel Jayapaul, Occupational Therapy Team Lead. Class attendee Bernice is so appreciative of the impact the team have had on her mobility that she hopes to come back as a volunteer to say thank you.
Occupational Therapist, Michel Varela said ‘Our main focus is to improve the quality of life … we just have to provide the right tools so they can be happier, stay [at home] longer, independent and safer.’
In Hertfordshire, Community Nurse, Chisomo was filmed on a visit to a resident in Harpenden, where her gentle nature put him at ease. Currently on the District Nursing Course, Chisomo has been on placements in different areas of Hertfordshire, expanding her skills as she grows her career within a supportive team.
To find out more about how you can make a difference and develop your career withing the CLCH family, take a look at our ‘Work for Us’ page and the range of development opportunities with the CLCH Academy.
