A day in the life...

1. Can you describe a typical working day?

No! Every day is so different but that is what is good about it. However I would say I spend 80% of my time looking at Patient Safety/ Guidelines & Practice Development and then 20% on Education.

2. What is a key skill or tool you depend on in your daily working life?

Communication, a sense of humour and being optimistic!

3. What do you feel is a major challenge within your role?

Given the nature of my role, the sheer number of people can be a challenge. All work, especially relating to patient safety, is interdisciplinary so this increases the number of people you touch base with considerably. Also ensuring you get the right information to the right people so they can cascade the information down can be a challenge.

4. 2012 has been all about achieving personal bests (e.g. Olympics) – what has been your biggest/proudest achievement?

The Pan London Perioperative Practice Group Never Events workshop – we really pulled together to put it on.

Never Events is a policy framework for use in the NHS prepared by the Patient Safety policy team. "Never Events" are classified as being very serious, largely preventable patient safety incidents that should not occur if the relevant preventative measures have been put in place .

On a personal note, getting my golf handicap down from 26 to 24!!

5. Do you have any New Year's resolutions for work in 2013?

Too early to think about next year, but I know we have big challenges ahead.

6. Do you have any top tips or a key best practice theme you would share with your colleagues?

Build your networks or you can't do it! It's for this reason the Pan London group has survived and events such as the Never Event workshop were such a success. It provides us with the opportunity to share stories/experiences and learn from each other. Having such a good support network is also beneficial for new starters as there is always someone on hand to speak to.