Kath Fletcher has moved on yet again to a new phase in her 29 years at the Trust. She's now Head of Planned Care Access. We asked her a bit more  about her career to mark the occasion.

 What’s the challenge of this new role? 

The role includes Trust lead for planned care services and the achievement of the 18 weeks referral to treatment standard, developing local policies and procedures required to ensure sustainable delivery.  A key component to this will be ensuring the Trust is achieving best practice relating to data quality and validation, with an emphasis on ensuring data is correct at initial entry.  I will also be lead for digital administration and will have professional responsibility for patient administrative functions. 

 

How does it feel leaving DATS.

It doesn’t actually feel like I am leaving, more like an office move!   I will still be working closely with Outpatient, Appointments and Clinical Divisional colleagues to improve data quality and build on digital maturity.  The FSS Division and Outpatient & Records Directorate have been my work family for such a long time, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with them all. 

 

How long have you been at the Trust and what’s your career pathway?

I have been with the Trust for 29 years, starting as a directorate secretary and building my way up through the organisation.  Roles have included, bed management, Junior Dr Rotas, administration manager, and general manager firstly for records and appointments services, with the addition of outpatients 4 years ago. 

 

Funny moments?

I have had many funny moments working alongside fabulous people in a variety of roles and situations.  One in particular that springs to mind was when I looked after the surgical junior doctors and when trying to track down one of them discovered that they had created a sun terrace on the hospital roof, which included sun loungers, paddling pool and super soakers!  – it had been a particularly hot summer.