Debbie Morgan is the director of service improvement and transformation at CUH. As part of Disability History Month, 16 November - 16 December 2023, Debbie shared more about working at CUH and her hobbies with us.
What is your name and your role at CUH?
Hi, I'm Debbie Morgan and I am the director of service improvement and transformation
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Being able to work with so many incredible and inspiring colleagues and support them to make improvements for our patients, staff, organisation and wider system, working within an amazing team that I am very proud of, along with coaching and supporting others to help them to grow and develop.
When did you join CUH?
I joined CUH on 22 November 1993 - I've just reached my 30th year with the Trust!
What positions have you held here?
I joined the Trust as a trainee clinical cytogeneticist; after 8.5 years I moved into a variety of management roles and have been at director level for nearly 13 years now.
Why do you like working at CUH?
The diversity of our organisation in terms of our staff and the services we provide; being able to make a difference for our patients and colleagues; having the pleasure and privilege to work with so many wonderful colleagues, as well as the opportunities I have had to undertake a variety of different and rewarding roles over my 30 years here.
What does a usual day look like for you?
Every day is different, which I love. I work with colleagues from across clinical and non-clinical areas of the Trust, as well as external to the Trust. I may be chairing a meeting, helping to build quality improvement (QI) capability and capacity with our various QI programmes (we are currently out to advert for wave four of our improvement coach programme), supporting colleagues and my team to make improvements for our patients and staff, supporting delivery of the Trust’s annual productivity and efficiency requirement (this year we are on track to deliver £53m), or deputising for my executive director.
Tell us about a case study/experience at CUH that really stands out to you.
In 2008 I was very fortunate to receive a bursary from Addenbrooke’s Abroad (now Cambridge Global Health Partnerships) to undertake three weeks voluntary work at Bwindi Community Hospital in the middle of the Ugandan jungle. It was an incredible experience and opened my eyes as to how much more creative colleagues in low and middle income countries need to be with their resources, but also how many of their strategic issues are very similar to ours. I would highly recommend taking forward similar opportunities to anyone clinical, or non-clinical, as they are profoundly impactful in terms of your personal development, as well as the wider benefits and learning opportunities for our Trust.
How do you feel your role benefits our patients?
A core part of my role and the role of the improvement and transformation team is to support colleagues to make improvements for our patients, staff, organisation and wider system. In every role that I have undertaken, making a difference for our patients has been at the core.
Are you a member of one of our staff networks? If yes, and you are happy to share, why did you become a member of the network?
Yes the Purple Network; about 10 years ago I was diagnosed with a long term condition, that has progressed more recently from an undifferentiated connective tissue disorder onto lupus.
How has being a member of the network helped you?
Being able to support others with similar conditions, along with helping to raise awareness about disabilities / long term conditions / neurodiversity and what it is like to be a manager of others with such conditions.
Do you have any talents or hobbies you would like to tell us about?
My passions are travelling, trekking (last year I visited Jordan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, this year I have ventured to Crete and Oman and will be off to Guatemala in January), seeing animals in their natural habitats, mountains and undertaking voluntary work. I also have three wonderful rescue dogs who keep me busy outside of work, as well as staying fit and focusing on my wellbeing by going to the gym, running, yoga and cycling.
Tell us something interesting about yourself.
The highest mountain I have climbed is Mount Pisco in Peru, at 5,752m; I have undertaken two half marathons, competed in canicross events with my dogs and competed in sprint distance triathlons, since being diagnosed with my condition.