Meet Edward Clintworth, Cardiac Quality Improvement Manager for HTV Clinical Delivery and Networks Team. He tells us about his role and how he is also volunteering at the National Incident Coordination Centre. Read his top tips for working from home and how he’s love to hear from anyone involved in creating a digital dashboard.
Tell us about yourself – your name, your role, and a brief description of what you do?
Hello, my name is…Edward, and I am the Cardiac Quality Improvement Manager for the HTV Clinical Delivery and Networks Team. My role is to support STPs/ICSs and wider system networks with delivering improvement in cardiac health outcomes and reduce unwarranted variation in key clinical areas as detailed within the NHS Long Term Plan.
How has your role changed since the beginning of the COVID-19 incident?
As a team, our attention is focused toward the restoration and recovery of cardiac services across the South East, enabling patients to manage appropriate long term conditions and CVD risk factor modification. We recognise the enormous scale of challenges ahead but without exception, the achievements in recent months have been made possible through matrix working. To sustain this approach, my role will be to continue partnering with stakeholders into what is being termed now as the ‘New NHS’ and striving for better patient centred outcomes.
Tell us about what you’re doing to support the NHS in dealing with COVID-19 for the benefit of our patients, families and colleagues?
I am currently volunteering at the National Incident Coordination Centre (ICC) at Skipton House for the COVID-19 response. I have been lucky to have met some amazing people from all levels of the NHS, government and military. The ICC works through teamwork and a collaborative flow of open discussion. Everyone is talking about new ideas, strategies and problems, issues and solutions. It feels great to be working on COVID-19 directly and being a part of the support that we’re providing to get real help and care to patients, families and colleagues.
Is there anything you’d like your colleagues to do as a result of reading this that would help with what you’re working on?
Yes! I am researching and developing a digital performance dashboard to effectively measure the South East’s Cardiac Priorities as written in the NHS Long Term Plan. The dashboard will pull together data from various publications so it would be great to hear from people who have or, are involved in, developing a digital dashboard.
Who would you like to give to shout out to?
I’d like to give a shout out to everyone working in community and voluntary organisations who play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable people especially during the current crisis. Your help and support is invaluable and makes a huge difference to so many people.
Has there been one example or situation since the COVID-19 outbreak which has made you feel an additional sense of pride in working for the NHS?
I feel an additional sense of pride when I hear or read stories of real progress being made to people’s lives within the community. The volunteers supporting the wider NHS system have been so valuable toward supporting the most vulnerable.
What’s your one top tip when remote or home working?
Keep well hydrated, stretch, and avoid too much news!
How has your work pattern and ways of working altered since you’ve been working from home, and how do you now work alongside and catch up with colleagues?
With less commuting I feel I have more time dedicated to my responsibilities. MS Teams continues to be a valuable resource for me to catch up with colleagues.
Do you have a personal NHS story you’d like to share?
Back in 2010, I had the opportunity to work with a variety of diverse ethnic community groups whilst working for a local NHS Health Checks Programme. Whilst working with a local Gypsy Romany Traveller Community I experienced first hand a lack of understanding around healthcare information, perceived lack of support, and how mental health is not openly discussed in comparison to attributes towards dementia and cardiovascular disease. The kindness, understanding and support our local community and district nurses have given to those families at that time was so inspiring and the memory has always stayed with me.
What would your colleagues be surprised to discover about you?
I have a keen interest in 20th Century Russian History and Geopolitics. One day I’d like to travel on a polar explorer across the arctic circle.
What book are you reading at the moment?
Arnold Palmer – A Life Well Played
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Treat everyone how you want to be treated.
