Reflecting Upon My First 6 Months

It’s 6 months since I left the amazing NHS to return to pastures private, and apply two decades of experience from the outside looking in.

I must admit it’s been a whirlwind, not just because of the change of daily work routine, but also relocating out of the North West of England to re-establish my family’s roots in the West Midlands. Having benefitted from incredible kindness of my in-laws, we imminently receive the keys for our country home for life.

I’m a sentimental fool who will always compare. I believed there was no life for me outside of my beloved Lancashire, but Stafford and its surrounding areas have proven that to be misplaced emotion, and we’ve immediately found new happy places. After 19 years of unparalleled purpose leaving the NHS posed the potential for regrets, but the support of close family and encouragement of peers proved to be a strong crutch on which to lean.

My transition was helped in heaps by my new family of Apira Ltd . Opportunities come when you least expect, and as I sought my next challenge, Apira made it clear my personal values aligned with their own, plus those of their customers including the NHS and blue light services.

Throughout my career I’ve never been afraid to make a change, irrespective of my own anxieties and self-doubts. I started in the design and manufacturing environment of military aircraft (a dream for a 16 year old), seamlessly moving into a software and system integration house to ply my skills on the Jubilee Line Extension amongst other rail projects. Then a personal calling to move to a blue light service.

I have approached all my opportunities with a sense of gratitude, all roles presenting their own unique mix of motivating excitement (e.g. night shifts on stations, testing in cockpits and simulators, delivering new control rooms, etc.), personal development and career progression. I quickly learnt personal responsibility, support and encouragement of colleagues, and sharing satisfaction when the end result is delivered.

All my experiences have validated my personal strengths and weaknesses. Apira knew me well enough to see my potential to contribute to their offer, and the range of assignments thus far have not disappointed. I’ve already been able to spread my influence across Acute, Mental Health and Local Government, in the realms of Electronic Patient Record, Electronic Document Management, Patient Portals, Digital Dictation, Procurements, Strategic Programme Reporting and plenty of Business Development (something I’ve not done for 20 years!).

The ability to apply my senior NHS insights to problem solve with peers has been liberating. Plus, my ability to empathise with clients to mutual benefit has been very rewarding.

Likewise, supporting the forming of new strategic partnerships that can only enhance client care has allowed my range of strategic experiences to be applied.

Less obvious has been Apira’s support for my remaining personal itches that still require a scratch. I have been given the space to develop my own business interest outside of my Apira responsibilities. I am developing skills in the arena of supporting a non-UK healthcare product manufacturer, navigating their needs via the UK Innovation pathways on the journey towards a potential UK launch. I also continue to develop an idea in a completely different sector.

I now know these personal objectives provide a cross benefit to the energy I apply to my Apira responsibilities. Having the mental stimulus of a interesting mix is simply the way I tick.

Apira have demonstrated a willingness to be flexible, agile, supportive, challenging and above all true to their values. The traits are applied equally to personnel and client contracts, the latter ensuring value is delivered even during the most trying of assignment circumstances, re-purposes resources when clients need to change pace. Our Apira mix of incumbent and associate personnel is certainly a powerful blend.

The purpose shared by Apira and myself has certainly headed off any potential sense of regret. The Apira way is unique in that it affords me the emotional space to continue to feel a part of the NHS I was proud to serve.

Have you been on a similar journey? I’d love to hear about it.