When thinking about what to write this week, I realised I have had a number of firsts over the past few days. And I will not be the only one.
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the FY1 doctors joining Team ASPH in their first job as a qualified doctor. They did a first together, which hopefully meant they were able to support each other. More often we do a first on our own, but sometimes they are shared.
Over the last few months, as an executive team, we have weighed up a number of options to respond to the sustained increase in demand for services. Over summer we usually see a reduction in patients requiring urgent and emergency care but not this year and we think this will continue.
In this week’s message, on behalf of Team ASPH, I would like to give a big welcome to the new FY1 (Foundation year 1) doctors who started with us this week. We hope you will enjoy your time at ASPH. I think we’re a friendly bunch and I hope you find this too.
Today I am shadowing the Divisional Director for Women's Health and Paediatrics – Mr Faris Zakaria (many of you will know him as "Zak"). In the coming weeks I will do the same with the other Divisional Directors and it got me thinking about lesser known opportunities in the Trust to learn from others and broaden our horizons.
Each week Suzanne Rankin, our Chief Executive, sends a message to staff about events at the hospitals, special achievements, and plans for the future.
We shall be adding them to this section as well as including them on our Twitter and Facebook pages.
From time to time, we shall ask other members of the Trust Board and clinical team to give their perspective on the week in our hospitals.
Suzanne was announced as the new Chief Executive in June 2014.
Suzanne began her nursing and management career with the Royal Navy, including deployment during the 1990 Gulf War; a spell as Senior Nursing Officer at NATO Headquarters in Lisbon; and Nursing Officer in charge of the 56-bed Trauma and Orthopaedic Unit at the former Royal Hospital Haslar in Gosport, Hampshire.