We are UHB: Kelly Aitammou, Patient Pathway Co-ordinator

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust runs Good Hope, Heartlands, Queen Elizabeth and Solihull hospitals, and Solihull community services.

I currently work as a pathway coordinator within the radiotherapy department, but have been with the Trust for many years now.

I started at Selly Oak Hospital as an agency worker, where my job was to clean the instruments ready for theatre. After doing that for a little while I told them I was interested in doing administrative work. I was successful in getting an admin role external to the Trust, but I was really attached to where I was working, so continued on the staff bank, which is the Trust’s in-house temporary staffing service.

Then a job as a ward clerk became available at the hospital. I was over the moon! I went to work on the admissions ward, and it was here that I got my first feel of what it was like to work with patients. When you work other admin jobs, particularly those based in an office, you don’t get that daily reminder of what you’re doing it all for. As a ward clerk I got to see those patients and their families – I’d see them crying with each other, and I’d get to see them when they were relieved. It was a very rewarding job, and I learned a lot.

From the admissions ward I moved to what was called ‘West 4’ and this was the general surgery and colorectal surgery ward for patients having planned elective surgery. This ward was like my baby – I felt a very special connection with it. I learned so much about what the operations were, what aftercare the patients would likely need, I knew the doctor’s routine and could tell from the look on a nurse’s face if they needed some support.

Once the new hospital opened, this team started to mainly see colorectal patients, and treated a lot of people with colorectal cancer. The whole team was like a tight-knit family, especially because it was specialist care. The new ward was huge compared to West 4 so there was so much more for me to learn.

I was then asked if I could move to support the chemotherapy ward. I was really sad to leave my family on the colorectal ward, but I think it happened for a reason. This is where I started working with cancer patients more regularly. Some of these cancer treatments can go on for weeks, and the patients come in every day. I liked being a familiar smiling face they would see as they came on to the ward, and I really got to know many of these patients and their loved ones. You don’t know what many of them are going through, so it’s important that their first experience of the ward each day is a good one.

As much as I loved the job, it did take an emotional toll on me, so I made the difficult decision to leave that role, but I didn’t want to stop working with this cohort of patients. So, when a booking coordinator job came up, I was really happy; it was the perfect opportunity. I still got to do what I loved doing, and while I still got attached to the patients, I felt like it was more controllable.

I was so overjoyed when I found out I was successful for that job. I was so used to hearing ‘no’ and being turned down for roles over the years. I’d be told I didn’t have enough experience or enough qualifications; I left school with just GCSEs, no A-Levels or higher education qualifications.

I started doing that job at the start of the pandemic, and after a while I felt like I was ready to progress, but again, I wanted to stay within the department. So I applied for a job as a pathway coordinator, which would be that step up – and I really wanted the job.

Unfortunately, I fell really ill and ended up as an inpatient on the colorectal ward – the same one where I used to work. I had to come in for an operation to remove cancerous polyps from my bowels. The operation itself and the treatment failed so I ended up with a permanent ileostomy, which is classed as a disability. I was absolutely devastated.

That job was the last thing on my mind, but I had noticed that I hadn’t heard anything about it, so assumed I wasn’t successful. But, once I was feeling a bit better, I got a call to say I got the job! My first thought was that it must have been a joke. I was in hospital for six weeks and the recovery was going to be for months after, and they knew that, so I didn’t think they would keep the job for me – but they did. They really wanted me. I have never felt so happy and so proud!

I’ve been doing this role for two years now. It is my job to make sure all our patients in radiotherapy are treated within their recommended time scale. All patients that come through these doors have treatment times that we need to meet for them, so I do everything I can to ensure we do. I will speak with the patients to arrange getting them in for that treatment, and keep the service running smoothly by working closely with the clinical teams.

I really enjoy working with oncology patients. I love doing all the background work, and I like the fact that when I go home at the end of the day, I know that everyone for the next day is sorted. Professionally, I love the challenge that comes with the job. But, I do this job for the patients. These patients have a lot to think about as it is, and a lot of worries, so it is rewarding that I can help along the way. I think with my own experience, I can relate to these patients in a way that others might not.

I think I wanted this job so badly because I wanted to be living proof that you don’t need people with tons of qualifications or a perfectly healthy body to come and work here – I don’t have either of those things. I’ve heard of other people’s situations similar to mine, such as not applying for jobs for fear they won’t be accepted because of their disability. But this Trust does accept them, and even better, they support them.

My management team is so supportive. They have ensured I have all the specialist equipment I need to do my job, and have made all the reasonable adjustments. They have helped me arrange appointments with the occupational health team and made sure I have everything I need. There are the smaller things like checking in on me every day and supporting me to attend the disability and long term health conditions staff network groups, that mean the most. Some of my managers are also going on a disability awareness course! They don’t know how grateful I am.

I have been through so much while working at the Trust. Now I am happily married, but before I met my husband, all I had was work. I needed work to help me get back on my feet, and if it wasn’t for UHB and my wonderful colleagues I think my story would’ve ended differently. UHB is more like a family, and it is a place that teaches you to learn and grow. ?This Trust is much more than an employer.

We have a number of co-ordinator roles, and roles within radiotherapy, currently available. Search our jobs website to find out more: