Craic-ing the week 14/10/24

W/C 7th & 14th October

I missed posting my reflections last week, as I only worked a few days before heading off for some much-needed sun with my family. I’m not usually one for big birthday celebrations, but turning 40 felt like a good reason to take a break and spend time with the people who matter most.

It was great to switch off and recharge after what’s been an intense few months. Having a bit of space to breathe also helped me clear my head and think ahead, especially with my new role now just around the corner.

The week before my holiday was focused on navigating the first days after MMUH’s opening. The team did an incredible job ensuring the hospital was fully operational, and while things went smoothly overall, there were moments that required quick thinking and flexibility to keep everything on track.

What stood out was the teamwork, the willingness to adapt, and the shared determination to get things right. I’ve definitely taken away some valuable lessons—especially about leadership, the unpredictability of even the best-laid plans, and staying focused under pressure.

Since coming back, my attention has shifted to wrapping up my time at SWB, with just over a week to go. I’ve been focused on finishing handovers and tying up loose ends as best I can. Documenting everything has made me reflect on just how much we’ve achieved as a team over the past five years, the scale of the job itself, and how much I’ve enjoyed the experience.

I’ve drafted my roadmap for the first 100 days in the new role—a high-level, practical plan that will no doubt flex and adapt as the weeks go by. I ended the week by firming up the structure for my first week in the new job, which has made everything feel very real, imminent, and exciting!

Next week will be my final full week at SWB, which feels a strange thing to write! While it’s never easy to move on from something you’ve invested so much in, I’m thoroughly looking forward to the new challenge that awaits.

I started writing these reflections to process this transition—capturing my thoughts as I move from one role to another, and as a way to look back on what feels like a major life event. Sharing them publicly has also been a chance for those I’ve worked with (and may work with in the future) to get a glimpse into how I think.

I’ll likely keep journaling in a similar way each week. For now, though, I feel it’s a good time to bring the public posts to a close.

Onward!

The views expressed are entirely my own and do not necessarily represent the views of any organisation with which I am affiliated.