Andy, Debbie, and Dean: Bringing unique skills, knowledge and experience to NHS management

Andy's story

Andy served as a regular army officer in the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) for 10 years. He was then medically retired due to injury. After Andy's transition out of the military, he spent 6 years in the private sector in a professional services role. However, his desire to return to a large, complex, public sector organisation eventually led him to the NHS.

Andy initially had concerns about inefficiency within the NHS. However, he also recognised many aspects of the organisation that exceeded his expectations.

Andy's site director role

Andy is the site director for St John's Hospital and the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in NHS Lothian. Andy oversees the operations of these 2 hospital sites, in a direct leadership role with approximately 1,000 staff. He also has site-wide leadership of around 2,500 people. St John's serves as the district general hospital for West Lothian, while also hosting regional and tertiary surgical services. This includes plastics, head and neck cancer pathways, and the regional burns unit.

What Andy enjoys most about his role is the variability and dynamic nature of the work. It gives him a sense of public service, and the opportunity to work alongside dedicated people in the NHS.

Debbie's transition to a civilian healthcare career

Debbie served with the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) from April 1982 to March 2005. Her extensive military experience laid a strong foundation for her skills in nursing and leadership. It also helped prepare her for a successful transition to a civilian healthcare career.

When considering a move to the NHS, Debbie felt uncertain and apprehensive, describing it as stepping into the unknown. However, her experience with NHS 24, a national health board, was different. It felt more personal and inviting, helping her ease into the NHS environment.

Debbie's new role in NHS operational management and project leadership

Currently, Debbie is a clinical services manager at NHS 24. In this role, she is responsible for operational management and has the opportunity to lead projects. Debbie also remains involved in clinical work to maintain her nursing skills. Her job allows her to blend her strategic leadership abilities with hands-on clinical expertise. This helps to ensure efficient service delivery while contributing to patient care.

Debbie enjoys the teamwork, structure, and variety of opportunities available within NHSScotland. The collaborative environment and well-defined processes provide a sense of camaraderie and purpose, making her role both rewarding and engaging.

Dean's extensive transferable skills helped him find a new role in the NHS workforce

Dean is a regular army veteran who dedicated nearly 36 years of service to HM Forces. He began his military career as an infantry soldier, progressing from private / rifleman to regimental sergeant major in the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment.

In 2007, Dean was commissioned as a late entry officer into the Rifles Regiment. He served in various roles, including welfare, logistics, training, and recruitment, until his retirement in 2019. His extensive experience includes working with regulars, reserves, cadets, veterans, and foreign armies.

Before joining the NHS, Dean perceived it as a heavily clinical environment, characterised by a diverse workforce that was predominantly female. However, this perception evolved as he integrated into the NHS community.

Dean's management role in domestic services

Dean serves as the assistant domestic services manager at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. He oversees the day-to-day cleaning operations in accordance with NHSScotland’s national cleaning services specification. Dean's responsibilities include recruitment, training, health and safety, staff management, and budget oversight. He also collaborates closely with various departments so that day-to-day operations across the board are seamless, including:

• clinical
• portering
• administration
• transport
• laundry
• catering
• health and safety
• estates

One of the aspects Dean enjoys most about working in NHSScotland is the variety his role offers. He says, "No day is the same," Dean appreciates the autonomy he has to manage his responsibilities and the flexibility that comes with his position. It allows him to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the healthcare environment.