Why live, work and play in Powys?

Lorna Luter - Matron - Welshpool Hospital

I qualified as an Enrolled Nurse in 1985 and progressed to become an RGN in 1995. My experience has been predominantly in Medical nursing. I was fortunate enough to spend some time on the Renal ward at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. I found caring for renal patients very interesting.

I was successful in gaining the Sister’s post on the renal ward in Oct 1996 and thoroughly enjoyed this challenging and rewarding role.

I undertook the English National Board course in Renal Nursing and completed this the following year. I remained on the renal ward until Oct 2000 when I took up a Modern Matron post at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital providing leadership and support to the renal ward, a haematology ward and two general medical wards. This post I held for three years.

Following an internal restructure I returned to the nephrology ward as Senior Sister. At this point in my career I decided that I was ready for a change. An ex colleague informed me that Powys LHB were looking for someone to become Matron at Welshpool. I contacted Paul Labourne, Deputy Director of Nursing and arranged to meet him at Welshpool for an informal visit.

From the moment I walked through the door I knew this was where I wanted to work! My first impressions of the Hospital were that the patients were well cared for, this was a lovely new building, and all the staff I met were friendly and helpful. I decided this was the job I wanted!

When I started in Oct 04 I was keen to understand the organisation as a whole as well as how the Welshpool Hospital site ‘ticked’. I was of course anxious about starting a new job having worked for the same trust for 21 years, however any concerns were soon in the past as all the staff were so welcoming and helpful.

I have now been the Matron at Welshpool Hospital since October 2004 and I very much enjoy the challenges that it presents. The best reward for me is to have patients who are well cared for and a happy staff who feel respected and valued in their role.

The staff at the hospital have a great sense of humour which is invaluable in any team and also makes coming to work a pleasurable experience. Our General Practitioners and multi disciplinary team are increasingly caring for patients with complex conditions and as a consequence are developing their skills. The team is very forward thinking and enthusiastic about their professional development and future developments at the hospital site. The staff are ready and willing to take on the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Personally I have had the opportunity to participate in the Clinical Leadership Programme which has helped me understand other roles in the LHB and get to know colleagues from other areas and disciplines.

Matrons are seen as figureheads for the hospitals and have a level of autonomy which allows us to make local decisions and refer to other senior members of the LHB for a corporate view if appropriate. I very much rely on the Director of Nursing, the Deputy Director of Nursing, Matrons and colleagues at Welshpool for support and advice. The support I receive as well as knowing that the organisation is working together to continually improve services makes working in Powys worthwhile.

The Chief Executive recently visited the hospital and willingly gave some of his time to talk and listen to myself and the Facilities Manager about issues that we wished to discuss.

Welshpool Hospital enjoys and continues to develop good relationships with outside agencies which encourages partnership working.

I continue to live in Telford with my very supportive husband and find the 45 minute drive to Welshpool enjoyable and I often use that time to reflect on my day. My work life balance has improved as I no longer have to work such long hours. Because I am happier in my work and less stressed I am a nicer person to live with!

No one person makes a Community Hospital function. This is a team effort and that is what we have at Welshpool.

I would recommend working in Powys to anyone, so do yourselves a favour and come to work for Powys LHB where we are doing more and doing it better.