Guernsey Press

Office-based workers shadow health professionals

THE FIRST Allied Health Professions day saw office-based workers at the hospital shadow practitioners with their patients.

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Lynne Duckworth, HR Business Partner, left, with communications adviser Emma Walton. Both are taking part in the first ever Allied Health Professions Day. Yesterday they were observing keyhole surgery. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 22843279)

A national initiative, AHP day sees workers within communication, business and human resources roles enter the operating theatre or assessment rooms.

Communications adviser Emma Walton attended a keyhole surgery on the day along with Lynne Duckworth, who works as a human resources business partner.

‘Operating department practitioners probably have people observing quite a bit. They were completely chilled about it.

‘It was quieter than I thought it would be and lots of people were involved,’ said Mrs Walton.

‘From an HR point of view it showed the career progression opportunities for operating department practitioners. You see just how much people rely on each other in theatre and how people who have worked together for years can really trust each other,’ she said.

Business manager Amanda Robilliard spent time working with speech and language therapists and ophthalmologists in the hospital.

‘I’m usually based in an office in a different building. Today did make me think how interesting it is. It’s really opened my eyes to the responsibilities held.

‘It’s important because we want to feel part of a team,’ she said.

Dr Rachel Norman, Section Head of Cellular Pathology, said:

‘Not only is AHP Day a great way to showcase the work AHPs do collaboratively with other health professionals, but a way to celebrate and recognise the contributions made by AHPs across all sectors to improve the health and wellbeing of the general population. It is set to be a fantastic day.’