Teresa Doyle has worked for the NHS for 44 years, 40 of which have been at CUH! She is an out of hours deputy operational matron working in our Operations Centre, but started out as a healthcare assistant. Here Teresa tells us more about her time here and how things have changed.
My name is Teresa Doyle and my role is an out of hours deputy operational matron working in the Operations Centre at CUH.
I began my career with the NHS back in 1979, 44 years ago! I started out at Brookfields Hospital in Cambridge. Then from 1980 -1981 I worked in theatres at the old Addenbrooke’s site in the centre of Cambridge, it was such a fabulous place and I loved working there.
I then moved back to my birth place of Manchester in 1981 and worked in the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital which is where I met my husband. From there, in 1983, we both moved to Cambridge which is when my time began again at Addenbrooke's.
I joined CUH in 1983 as a nursing auxiliary. I already had more than three years experience as a nursing auxiliary before I joined Addenbrooke's and I remember being interviewed by Miss Macintyre. I was originally employed to work on ward C5, back in 1983 it was a gastroenterology and hepatology ward.
I worked in many areas as a nursing auxiliary during which time I completed my NVQ levels 2 and 3. Then in 2001 I was seconded to commence my nurse training at Hommerton College in Fulbourn and qualified in 2004, so I was a healthcare assistant for many years prior to completing nurse training.
When I qualified I did a rotation as a band 5 which exposed me to a lot of different areas across the hospital, including K2, which was a medical short stay unit, the old medical assessment unit and then my last placement was in the neurosciences critical care unit (NCCU) where I stayed for five years.
Being a band 5 to band 6 nurse I found very interesting and varied role. I worked as part of a centralised Nursing Response Team in the Operations centre, where I supported all areas in the Trust and contingency areas. I eventually stayed on one of the contingency areas which became a specialist ward for Diabetes and then Endocrine. I feel like I've done the full circle in this area as I was healthcare assistant on a Diabetes ward too!
I have now been deputy operational matron since 2016 working in the Operations Centre.
I feel I have had a fabulous career and never thought I would be where I am today.
The team of people I work with across the whole CUH, the variety it gives me and being in a privileged role, meaning I can visit anywhere in the Trust is what I love about my role and working here.
I have enjoyed every department, or role I have worked in, and looking after the patients has always been my top priority. CUH has given me opportunities to progress and develop throughout my career. I have met so many inspirational people and always strived hard to inspire others and encourage them. CUH is an excellent teaching hospital so much has happened and developed over the years.
I would like to think I make a difference every day.
No two days are the same as an out of hours deputy matron, it is a varied role supporting staff and patients, patient flow, patient safety, supporting the operational matron, dealing with complaints, quality ward visits, leading site safety, trouble shooting, the list goes on. Plus my role is very varied across the whole of CUH.
It's difficult to think of a specific time or role that stands out in my 44 year career, I have been blessed to work with so many amazing people past and present.
I have been lucky to have been looked after by CUH not only as an employee, but as a patient.
I have been a patient here to have new knees, which has enabled me to carry on working and I also had my children at the Rosie.
After so long working as a healthcare assistant, which I loved, and transitioning to a registered nurse, from a cleaner initially, to deputy matron, I have seen a lot!
The hospital has grown so much during the time I've been here. I remember moving from C5 to the new F&G block in 1985 thinking how smart that was. So much has changed and how much the Trust has grown and still doing so. Its amazing how procedures have improved for patients.