Emma Blakeway

As Deputy Theatre Manager, I feel that I have learnt a vast amount, gained more confidence and help to run a fantastic team.

My daily duties include :-

• Improving efficiency and productivity by acquiring new skills i.e interviewing new prospective staff ( substantive and bank ) and looking at correct staffing levels and skill mixes etc.
• Managing the department team by overseeing training and professional growth of employees.
• Creating a safe working environment and assessing employee capability levels to keep all staff safe.
• Conflict resolution.
• Attending staff welfare meetings.
• Weekly updates with HR.
• Applying critical thinking to analyse problems, evaluate solutions and select the best decisions to improve standards.
• Supporting my team by demonstrating respect and willingness to help.
• Managing budgets, controlling expenditure and keeping efficient use of resources.
• Liaising with company representatives.
• Answering queries and handling complaints / issues to provide outstanding patient service.
• Liaising with senior management and providing ongoing reports to share the departments performance.
• Attending weekly / monthly Theatre Utilisation, RADAR, Prosthesis, Clinical Leads and Heads Of Department meetings.
• Being part of the Resuscitation, Medical Devices, Infection Control and Safeguarding committee.
• Maintaining a strong working relationship with colleagues and senior management.

Resuscitation Lead

• Monthly audits of the resuscitation trolleys and equipment in all of the departments of the hospital.
• Assisting with Basic Life Support for the hospital staff.

Anaesthetic Lead

• Preparing for the start of a list i.e checking of anaesthetic machines, preparing emergency drugs and all airway adjuncts etc.
• Assisting the anaesthetists with all types of anaesthesia for surgical procedures i.e spinals, sedation, regional blocks and general anaesthesia.
• Keeping up to date with relevant anaesthetic techniques and procurement of equipment.
• Lead for sedation list.
• ILS trained.
• Sedation course completed.
• Medicines audit auditor.
• Sedation audit auditor.

Clinical Lead

Over the years whilst working for Horder Healthcare I have gained confidence and knowledge in how to help run the department smoothly. This includes :-

• A leadership course.
• Acting manager when the theatre manager is off.
• Staff appraisals.
• Interviewing prospective new employees.
• Safe staffing and utilisation of theatres.
• Timesheets.
• Agency tracker.
• Anaesthetic cover and rotas.
• Monitoring staff absence and completing their return to work paperwork.
• Staff welfare meetings.
• Attending utilisation, prosthesis, bed, medicines and Datix meetings.
• Ordering of loan kits and reps.
• Input of procurement and proposed business cases.
• Providing excellent care with focus on patient safety, comfort and dignity.

I started my ODP training with this trust in September 2000 and qualified in September 2002 with an NVQ level 3 in Operating Department Practice.

My job entailed :-

• Bleep holder for trauma and cardiac arrests within the hospital.
• The transfer of awake or ventilated patents to another hospital.
• Preparation of the anaesthetic room and machines for a list.
• Assisting the anaesthetist with various types of anaesthesia.
• Scrubbing for various specialities i.e gynae, general, orthopaedic, urology, vascular, ENT, trauma and Cepod.
• Recovery practitioner.

In 2006 I was given a Band 6 position where I looked after the elective and emergency theatres on labour ward and also the procurement of anaesthetic equipment.