Military Cross Award for Naval Medical Assistant Kate Nesbitt

John Yarnold
John Yarnold, the
Deputy Chief Executive
and Director of Finance
has been appointed
to the post of Director
of Finance for NHS
Gloucestershire
(Gloucestershire PCT).
Here Cascade talks to
John about his time at
the Trust.
How long have you
been with the Trust?
Since the Trust came
into existence in 1994!
Before that I worked
for the Plymouth Health
Authority, starting as
Deputy Director of
Finance in 1986, being
made Director of Finance in 1989, then Director of Finance for
the Trust from 1994 -2001. Between 2001 and 2003 I led the
development of the financial processes and computer systems
for the National Shared Services Centres before returning to the
Trust in June 2003 as Director of Performance and Governance.
In May 2006 I took up my current role.
What achievements are you particularly proud of?
It is really difficult to pick one specific achievement! I am
particularly proud of being part of the team that successfully
built and presented the business case for cardiac surgery to
be introduced to the Trust. Before the surgery was approved,
patients in the South West had to travel to London for cardiac
surgery, and the success of the business plan was a result of
the whole team putting in long hours and lots of effort. I am
also hugely proud of the different teams that I have helped to
build up over the past few years.
How are you feeling about the move?
I’m really excited. I have always felt that the engine room of
change within the NHS is in commissioning. In the current
financial climate I think it will be a particularly interesting couple
of years! However I am also really upset to be leaving all the
people I have worked with over the years at the Trust.
What will you miss the most?
Definitely the people! Commissioning always tends to be one
step removed from clinical and Trust staff, and I will really miss
that daily interaction.
Any final messages?
I will miss everyone and keep at it! Plymouth Hospitals has the
potential to be one of the best Trusts in the country if each and
every one of you rises to the challenge.
Occupational Health
The Occupational Health Team has just welcomed Dr
Adeodu as its new consultant in Occupational Health. Here
Dr Adeodu explains a bit more about his role and vision for
the Trust.
I’d like to start by
saying a big thank
you to the Trust for
giving me the chance
to work with you
as a consultant in
occupational health
(OH) I moved to the
occupational health
consultant post in this
Trust from a private
sector OH company,
Capita Health Solutions.
My main area of interest
is work ability and
rehabilitation. Going
back some time, I was
a paediatric registrar for
two years in Derriford.
I really enjoyed my time here, and so I was glad when the
opportunity to return was offered to me.
I believe I have joined the Trust at a very interesting time. I say
‘interesting time’ because the government has commissioned
the first ever independent review of the health and wellbeing of
NHS staff. The review group has recently released its interim
report. Over here in Kingstor House (home to the Trust’s OH
department), we are eagerly putting finishing touches to a
summary of this report and our recommendations to the Trust
Board. If you want to find out more about the Boorman review
just zip over to http://www.nhshealthandwellbeing.org/
Research findings tell us that good work is, in general, good
for our health and wellbeing. If you haven’t already guessed
it, my role (together with the rest of the OH team) is to help
you stay happy, healthy, and productive in well designed and
rewarding jobs. We can achieve this if we all work together:
Trust employees, union representatives, human resources (HR),
managers, health and safety officers, the Infection Prevention
and Control team, Trust Board, and Occupational Health. If you
feel your job is doing your mind and body a world of good then
our success lies in keeping it that way. On the other hand, you
may feel your job is not so good for your health and wellbeing;
our success will then lie in helping find the best solution for you.
So, what’s my vision? I am here to serve all staff and the Trust.
Together with the OH team, I aim to support your health and
wellbeing. My vision is that our staff health and wellbeing work
will help you deliver high quality care for all patients of the
Trust, something I believe means a lot to all of you. If you are
happy and healthy at work, this can also have benefits for your
life outside the Trust, your families and the local community in
general.
Thank you for taking the time to read my intro and I look forward
to working with you all.
Ade Adeodu, Consultant in Occupational Health
Cascade Autumn 2009
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