Profile

I grew up in Ghana where students are encouraged to choose science very early on depending on interests and abilities. I wrote SSCE which is equivalent to A levels and I chose the three sciences including Maths. I am the first person in my family to have read straight sciences and then carried on to pursue a STEM career.

I studied BSc Physics. I realised I could use physics to make an impact in lives, I chose Medical Physic Modules in my final years.  I didn’t have much background information and I didn’t have anyone in my network who knew about this. I chose to study MSc in Biomedical Engineering. I have spent 10years working in various clinical engineering roles.

My husband and family have been my cheerleaders.

I am married to Ed with 3 children a boy and 2 girls; 9,  6 and  5 and we live in Kent. I work away from home Monday to Friday and so my weekends are very packed.

I spend my weekends with my trio watching family movies, chatting about their week or having fun engaging in really random stuff like karaoke or playing board games.

My boys love to play the piano whiles the girls sing their favourite songs and dance to tunes which I join in too. I enjoy cooking and hosting friends and family as well and there’s mostly never a quiet moment in the house. On Sundays, I either serve on the hosting or children’s team.

Apart from working as an engineer in the hospital, I am a member of the hospital choir and we rehearse lunchtime every Tuesday. The choir performs in at least two concerts a year and my favourite time is Christmas where we visit the wards and sing to raise money for the hospital’s charity.

I believe nothing is impossible for those who believe. Make use of all opportunities that come your way. My 10-year career journey has been through relentless determination, perseverance, hard work  and continuous learning. Hard work pays off.

I have been working within the healthcare science workforce group over the last 10years. Healthcare scientists use their knowledge in science and technical skills to advance care either by working directly with patients, or in supporting roles or involvement in research and innovation. We make up only 5% of the NHS workforce but have multiple impacts in patient’s pathways.

I worked as electro biomedical engineer technician and then to an electro biomedical engineer over a period of 2years. I was responsible for accepting and commissioning new medical devices, performing routine and preventative maintenance and repairing medical equipment.

I worked as a  Healthcare Scientist Assistive Technology Specialist for 6years where I worked as part of the multi professional team of occupational therapists, speech therapists and teachers, using my professional expertise as an engineer to provide assistive technology and rehabilitation engineering solutions to assess children and young persons with highly complex physical, communication and learning needs.

I currently work Healthcare Scientist in Clinical Engineering and a Business manager for the Medical Equipment Management service.

Clinical engineering in hospital focuses on the application of technology in the clinical environment.

As a business manager, I manage the service level agreement for medical equipment management services provided to other various healthcare organisations in the community.

In my clinical engineering department

I work with other members of staff and patients to decide which equipment is best , Compare cost against how well they work. This require assessing the requirement of need, developing a specification to meet all current and relevant guidelines, organising demonstration days for relevant staff to play and evaluate and ensuring its safe to use before trying in wards.

We keep records of what equipment has been purchased, fixed and withdrawn from use which is managing the whole equipment lifecycle. I carry out risk assessments.

I keep track of our work that we provide to external customers which is fixing and maintaining equipment and ensure all our customers are happy as a business manager.

I investigate device safety alerts involving reusable medical equipment

I analyse device related incidents over specific period to highlight any trends and lessons learnt.

Current Projects
1. Accessible nurse call buttons for patient with limited or no hand movement.

2. I am currently writing a proposal to develop an assistive technology service to support inpatient with complex physical and communication needs in RUH. Improving communication between patients with speech disability and clinicians
3. I am building a business case for tracking medical device real time throughout the hospital using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)
4. Identifying and developing an efficient and cost effective way of reading and logging drug fridge temperatures remotely.

I could be leading on a project to purchase a medical device which has to be delivered within agreed timescales. This may involve engaging all relevant stakeholders which include suppliers, clinical users such as nurses, doctors, IT etc.  The engagement process could involve developing device specification with a multidisciplinary team, demonstrating new equipment to users, obtaining feedback, training users during clinical evaluation, evaluating and communicating results from evaluation to all relevant stakeholders.

I could also be investigating medical device related incidence, carrying out technical and risk assessments, performing root cause analysis or implementing solution.

it could also be a phone call that a device on trial in use within the clinical environment is not working.

I could also be responding to queries around other projects I’m involved with.