I am passionate about supporting the National Health Service: its Patient-First Patients, Management, Staff. I grew up near Haywards Heath, attended Hurstpierpoint College, then Oxford University reading English on a Scholarship (First Class Honour Moderations, MA).
My ‘connection’ with the NHS began when, aged 4, I was operated on and spent 6 months at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children. I worked for 10 years in London at a multinational City reinsurance business, specialising in Health Care (Hospitals and Physicians); leaving as Director to set up a national correspondent company in the USA, for 15 years based in New York and Seattle. Returning to live in Mid Sussex, I acted as Carer for family members and supporter of Brighton charities. For 6 years preceding Lockdowns I was Volunteer Patient Ward Visitor at, for 6 months, Worthing Hospital, then RSCH, making 1250-1500 patient bedside visits a year across all wards and units.
Consequently I have learned a huge amount about the public’s interaction and inter-relation with the NHS. My assigned areas at the County Hospital: Barry Building, Dementia (BSUH training), A&E/AAU, ICU/HDU, Millennium, Tower, Courtyard, Cardiac, Renal, Eye. My other roles: Major Incident, BSUH Oral History, NHS70 ‘The Laughing Poet’ TV interview, Discharge Team support, RSCH Chapel organist, Choir, HELP recording, Music on the Wards, Small Acts of Kindness, Friends.
During Lockdowns I have been networking with, advising, supporting, unassigned NHS Volunteers, and 5 days a week included in a ‘Bubble’ at a Private Residential Retirement and Nursing Care community.