Ann Cooke, is a PA/medical secretary in the Palliative Care Team. Ann joined the CUH Family in 2002 and has dedicated her time here to the Palliative Care Team. Here Ann tells us more about her time at CUH.
What is your name and your role in our hospitals?
Hi, I'm Ann Cooke and I'm a PA/medical secretary in the Palliative Care Team.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
My job is varied, you can never predict what each day will be like. I have the opportunity of working with an amazing clinical team who are always there to support patients with life limiting illnesses - their dedication is inspiring. I also work alongside some lovely supportive admin colleagues.
Tell us a bit about your CUH journey.
I joined CUH in June 2002 and have solely worked as a PA/Medical Secretary in the Palliative Care Team since. I joined the Trust as I had been a longstanding patient here over many years and I wanted to give something back for all the care and compassion that was given to me during my cancer treatment.
How did you come to work at CUH? Did you work elsewhere before joining the CUH team?
Before I came to CUH in 2002 I had been working for 8 years in an Agricultural Machinery company. I originally started as a purchase ledger clerk and worked my way around the company ending up as a Sales Administrator for both UK and export sales. However, after receiving treatment at Addenbrooke's I felt like I wanted to give something back to the hospital.
Where did you train?
I completed an Executive Assistant course in Oxford in 1993.
What does a usual day look like for you?
Formatting and typing letters, taking phone calls from patients and relatives some of these calls can be difficult given the circumstances and caller distress. I attend various meetings both informal and formal where I take minutes but also have the opportunity to contribute. I'm also involved in booking appointments for our outpatient service. To illustrate activity for the outpatients service I also contribute in preparing data for the team.
Tell us about a case study/experience at CUH that really stands out to you.
Obviously COVID affected all of us in many different ways but one aspect that has stood out for me is the tireless perseverance one of my clinical colleagues went to to ensure a dying patient was able to speak to their loved ones when it wasn’t possible for them to say their goodbyes at the bedside.
How do you feel your role benefits our patients?
I’d like to hope that my previous customer service knowledge and experience has transferred across to my role in supporting our patients.
Showing empathy towards our callers and to our team hopefully, in a small way, reduces further distress.
