Gemma Czech, is a lead nurse on our virtual ward, a new initiative to help support and improve patient experience whilst having a positive impact on flow and capacity within the Trust. Gemma joined the CUH family aged 16 in 2002, here she tells us more about her time at CUH.
What is your name and your role in our hospitals?
Hi, I'm Gemma Czech and I'm a lead nurse on the virtual ward.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Working and leading in an environment that has a passion for providing excellent quality care to patients.
Being part of providing a new initiative to CUH to help support and improve the patients experience and have a positive impact of flow and capacity within the Trust.
Tell us a bit about your CUH journey.
I joined the Trust in 2002 at the age of 16 as a nursing assistant on ward G5, I was lucky enough to be offered a secondment to start my nursing training at Homerton college.
During my time at CUH I have been a nursing assistant on ward G5, a student nurse across all areas of the Trust, staff nurse in urology and HPB (hepato-pancreato-biliary), a staff nurse, junior sister and senior sister in the emergency department and now a lead nurse in the virtual ward.
Working at CUH feels like walking into my second home, always a familiar face in every corridor, CUH really is a family.
We are all here because we care and want to deliver a quality service to our patients, we are passionate about the NHS and every single person who works here has a purpose, without everyone working hard and showing commitment, the hospital would not be what it is.
Teaching and education are important to continuously grow and develop, CUH promotes this and recognises the importance of change to improve in what we aim to deliver.
How did you come to work at CUH? Did you work elsewhere before joining the CUH Family?
At 16 years old, when I first left school, I worked for the inland revenue in council tax and business rates for 6 months! Then I joined CUH and did my training with Homerton college, Cambridge and at Addenbrooke's and I've been here since.
What does a usual day look like for you?
I visit my team in the virtual ward hub, to check everyone is ok and discuss the patients on the virtual ward. I meet with the nurse in charge/ward manager to discuss our action plans for the week on the ward. I spend time creating plans and pathways so the service can continuously develop and grow. I attend meetings with other teams, lead nurses, matrons, operational managers to discuss various topics including transformation, governance and teaching.
Twice a week I work clinically, taking a group of patients, providing care and actively participating in the day-to-day activities that happen on the ward.
I believe visibility is key to success in a leadership role.
Tell us about a case study/experience at CUH that really stands out to you.
My entire experience of working at CUH has been positive, I have been extremely lucky with all the opportunities I have had whilst working here. Not only do I work here but I was also born here, my first home was in Grantchester house and both of my children were also born here. CUH really is like home to me.
How do you feel your role benefits our patients?
The virtual ward project enables patients to receive hospital level care in their own homes, remaining under the care of CUH until they are ready for discharge.
Patient experience is our priority, as well as creating flow and capacity within the Trust.