James Hewitson is a staff nurse in our orthopaedic theatres. James joined CUH over 20 years ago and although he is a born and bred Northumbrian Geordie says his experience at CUH has been life changing. Here James tells us more about his time here and how things have changed.
My name is James Arthur Hewitson, and I am a staff nurse in orthopaedic theatres.
What I enjoy the most about my role the interaction with my colleagues including the surgeons. Over the years I have seen some young surgeons come through their training from registrar to specialty registrar in a hospital (SpR) then go on to become consultants, at least nine of them so in a way I have been an ever present in their careers. I find them mostly very respectful and friendly, and they seem to enjoy my company in theatres, in fact some of the emails I have received for my re-validation recently are frankly wonderful.
For over ten years I organised a barbecue, the infamous “Othopaedic Summer Barbecue”. This was a great event and one that brought together the whole of the orthopaedic department and also x-ray. It started with about 80 people then over the years increased to over 120! In fact, recently when I've had to use the hospitals services (I'm not getting any younger you know) to get bloods taken or CT scans etc, people who I cannot always remember will say things like “Oh Geordie James, from the Ortho Barbie!” and “Great times!” so people obviously do know me and remember me after all.
I have been in the nursing profession since 1989. I originally started working in a behaviour unit at St Nicholas Hospital in Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for the mentally ill. Then in 1990 I moved Bede College of Nursing and Midwifery based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead as a student nurse. I have had many jobs in different hospital departments since qualifying in 1994. Including a few nursing homes.
In total I have been a nurse or support worker since 1989 so 35 years or so!
I left Newcastle General for some more experience and worked in neuro theatres for a couple of years in the Scottish Borders the Borders General Hospital, or BGH. I enjoyed living in the Borders, however, I wanted to progress my career and saw an advert in the Nursing Times for a higher grade nursing role at Addenbrooke's and the rest is history as they say.
I originally joined Addenbrooke's in February 2001 and after the first 2 years here I had to move back to the Northeast as my father was poorly. Once he was better, about a year later in 2003, I came back to Addenbrooke's. I got a role in neuro theatres as a scrub nurse, eventually though I came back to orthopaedics the original post I had obtained in 2001. I have gone through the various increments and have remained a senior band 5 and to be honest I am happy as I am.
I like working at CUH as over the years although I have as anyone else has, some ups and downs, I have always had excellent support and felt cared for.
Most recently, especially during the Covid years, I have found a realisation of just how much of a team everyone, new staff and established staff, are and how my colleagues have carried me through some dark times for me, both physically and mentally.
In 2021 I was diagnosed with bladder cancer, I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Type 2 Diabetes, and I've also had and do sometimes suffer from, mild depression. I have as you can imagine, had to have time off due to these conditions for appointments and surgery etc. and I have always been supported by my managers and colleagues. Now I am retired and have returned part-time I am living a better work life balance.
A usual day for me is to wake up have my breakfast then head to work on my bike, on arrival I put the coffee on and get ready for the day. Once settled, I go into my theatre, open the computers and put up the x-rays for the first case. Then we have the team meeting and go off to start the day and decide which operation to scrub in for. As I am on reduced hours, I usually do the first case, which means I can circulate or collect patients for the rest of my shift, unless I am asked to double scrub with a learner.
Every day is a school day at Addenbrooke's, and no day is the same, however there are some cases that are not only interesting but, incredibly challenging. I essentially get a new experience every day.
One particular experience that has stuck with me, I was on night shift and got a call at about 02:00 that a theatre was urgently needed for a baby. My colleague and I got the theatre ready and the patient arrived within half an hour. It was a particularly distressing case but what impressed me about the experience was the ability and professionalism of the whole team, from the scrub team and surgeons, to the anaesthetic team. After the case we had a de-brief and were all assured and comforted by the whole team coming together to support each other.
My role in theatres, in my view, helps the most important people, the patients. My colleagues and I are able to act as advocate's whilst patients are in theatre and of course, keep all patients safe and protected from injury. I also feel when I do a good job and scrub for the case using the latest techniques for any procedure, remaining professional and using my experience, the patient has a better chance of a more pain free and better life ahead.
When asked by students or new staff "why orthopaedic theatres?" I always say, when you see an infants’ x-ray who has fallen off their bike or from a tree they've just climbed, and the bone is broken, but after the surgery the bone looks more like it should do, that is why orthopaedic theatres! This still gives me a great sense of pride and achievement even after all these years.
Since I joined CUH I have seen many changes, sometimes what feels like every week! The new building of the orthopaedic and trauma theatres, the formation of the major trauma unit. The new Papworth Hospital and the Bio- medical Campus development. These are all notable changes that have occurred since I joined. Also, the new elective orthopaedic hub which has been in operation for a few months now.
Most notable changes that have occurred in my time and career in Addenbrooke's has been the introduction of new and more productive techniques in care and for me in surgical equipment and techniques. New buildings and services that have helped immensely during Covid and over the time I have been here. The more emphasis on caring not only for the patients but also for each other, with the brilliant new Health at Work Department, Care First and wonderful support of the nurses and doctors who work there. I have been, over the years, a user of these services and I have benefitted greatly from their care and support. If anybody promotes and enables staff to adopt the hospital’s Safe, Kind and Excellent statement they go a long way help us all to do just that.
I have noticed overall the efforts and almost family values of the staff especially in my department, nothing is too much to deal with and they are always there to help and support each other during good and bad times.
Again, I have experienced this personally over the years and it has become more and more essential and easy to access, over recent years following Covid.
So even though I am a born and bred Northumbrian Geordie, I would definitely say that my Addenbrooke's experience has been overall positive and life changing!