Heartbeat January 2019
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Emma Archer Associate Head of Pharmacy<br />
Operations, Business and Projects<br />
It’s not only a ‘hello’ this month, but also<br />
‘welcome back’ to Emma Archer, who<br />
has joined as our new associate head<br />
of pharmacy operations, business and<br />
projects.<br />
Emma trained as a pharmacy technician<br />
following two years training at the General<br />
Hospital Birmingham. She had a short stint<br />
at George Elliot Hospital, before arriving<br />
at Sandwell Hospital (pre the Trust merge)<br />
where she enjoyed seven years working in<br />
dispensary, aseptics and ward based services.<br />
Emma moved to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital<br />
Birmingham as dispensary manager, where<br />
she stayed for 13 years.<br />
“During this time, my role progressed to<br />
encompass Selly Oak dispensaries and crosssite<br />
ward based services,” explained Emma.<br />
“I was appointed to the role of associate<br />
director of pharmacy by my then boss, Dr<br />
Keith Ridge CBE, who is now the chief<br />
pharmacist for the UK.”<br />
In 2013, Emma moved to Birmingham<br />
Children’s Hospital for a better work/life<br />
balance as she looked to start a family.<br />
“My husband and I have twin boys who are<br />
now four and will be starting school this<br />
year,” said Emma.<br />
“After working part-time managing the<br />
pharmacy homecare team, I felt it was the<br />
right time to step back into full-time work<br />
and I was delighted when the opportunity to<br />
return to Sandwell Hospital came up.”<br />
Emma’s role as associate head of pharmacy<br />
operations, business and projects means she is<br />
responsible for dispensaries, procurement and<br />
distribution cross-site.<br />
She said: “I will be working with Pun (Sharma,<br />
Chief Pharmacist) to lead new projects<br />
which include the outsourcing of outpatient<br />
dispensing and the further roll out of Pyxis<br />
medicine cabinets across the organisation.<br />
There will also be a lot of work to prepare the<br />
service for the move to Midland Met.”<br />
So what is Emma most looking forward to<br />
about her new role?<br />
“I was happy working at Sandwell before<br />
and I already feel I have returned to a friendly,<br />
positive organisation,” smiled Emma.<br />
“I am looking forward to using the<br />
knowledge and skills gained through my time<br />
working in hospital pharmacy to improve<br />
services and support colleagues in their<br />
development.<br />
“It’s an exciting time to join the team with<br />
Midland Met on the horizon.”<br />
Emma Archer, Associate Head of Pharmacy<br />
Operations, Business and Projects joined us<br />
this month<br />
Wave goodbye to…<br />
Jean Bennington<br />
Senior Receptionist<br />
A senior receptionist in our<br />
occupational health department retired<br />
at the end of last year after 22 years at<br />
our organisation.<br />
Jean Bennington joined as a phlebotomist<br />
in 1997, a role which she enjoyed, however<br />
when staff reductions were made in the<br />
department, Jean decided to try and use<br />
her administrative skills and qualifications<br />
elsewhere.<br />
“I spent some time working in the<br />
recruitment department,” said Jean.<br />
“And in 2000 I joined occupational health<br />
as a senior receptionist. I have very much<br />
enjoyed the last 18 years with the team and<br />
the wide variety of the work I have been<br />
involved in.<br />
“I can remember when appointments were<br />
handwritten into the paper diary, which<br />
seems a world away from the impressive<br />
paper light system we have now.”<br />
Jean also played a major part in the<br />
development of the pioneering Sandwell<br />
occupational health computer system,<br />
which has now been developed into the<br />
‘Cohort’ computer system – the number<br />
one occupational health computer system<br />
used around the world.<br />
So what will Jean miss most about her<br />
working life?<br />
“The people,” she said without hesitation.<br />
“Not only my wonderful colleagues, but the<br />
rest of the staff who are our patients. I have<br />
always enjoyed helping people and will miss<br />
the satisfaction that this brings.”<br />
Tracy Lees, Nurse Manager said: “Jean is a<br />
larger than life personality, hardworking, full<br />
of zest, creativity, new ideas and enthusiasm<br />
to change and improve the way we do<br />
things in occupational health. She will be<br />
greatly missed.”<br />
Jean plans to spend her retirement by<br />
going on regular holidays with her husband<br />
– but she has already told him that she<br />
can’t go away in October…as she will be<br />
returning on the bank to help with the<br />
<strong>2019</strong> flu campaign!<br />
Senior Receptionist, Jean Bennington with her colleagues from occupational health at her<br />
retirement party<br />
25
Change language