12 Start Well: Share your views Share your views on proposed changes to how and where some maternity, neonatal and children’s surgical services across North Central London could be delivered in the future. These include proposals: • to close maternity and neonatal services at the RFH or Whittington Health NHS Trust • to close the birthing suites at Edgware Birth Centre, while retaining antenatal and postnatal care on the Edgware Community Hospital site • to consolidate some surgery for babies and very young children in centres of expertise at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The aim is to ensure patients get the very best care, in the right place at the right time for many years to come. No decisions have yet been made. The consultation, led by North Central London Integrated Care Board and NHS England Specialised Commissioning, closes on Sunday 17 March 2024. For more information see Freenet. 60 seconds with… Penka Velyanova Penka Velyanova is an operating department practitioner (ODP) at CFH, having recently completed an ODP apprenticeship. When did you first start at the RFL? I started working at the RFL in 2014 as a domestic assistant, before applying for a healthcare assistant role in 2016. How did you find out about the ODP apprenticeship? Details were shared by our matron with referral to a clinical practice educator (CPE) from another department, who helped all interested HCSWs with the application process. I first applied in June 2020 and received support with my application. I then had to attend interviews, I had done some assistant practitioner and functional skills training at the trust so that certainly helped. The process was not very long and I started the apprenticeship in September 2020. Tell us about the apprenticeship The apprenticeship is a degree-level three-year course through the University of Derby, to become a registered healthcare professional specialising in caring for people of all ages before, during and after surgery. I was a full-time employee of the trust, with 20% of my time going to academic study and the rest being training from practice. I was based at CFH for all of it, but I also got to go to BH for other types of surgery such as paediatrics and emergency. That gave me a wide variety of situations to work in. Did you face any challenges during the apprenticeship? One of the main challenges was time management. I had to continue with my work and studies, but also had my family and home life to keep going. Learning in English was another challenge as I am originally from Bulgaria. However the university was really understanding and provided us with lots of help and resources. My mentors at the trust were supportive and knew that I had another focus with studying. I want to express my appreciation to them and my colleagues who gave me guidance when they could. What would you advise others who are thinking of doing an apprenticeship? There is a constant three-way relationship that you need to remain in touch with between yourself, the trust and your university. You need to be honest with yourself about how you are coping, and get help from people when needed. I believe in education and progression, and the RFL has been really important in that journey for me. While it takes commitment and determination, it was a great opportunity for me. When did you finish the apprenticeship? I finished the course in September, and to be honest, I kind of miss the intensity of it! I thought the transition to full time clinical work would be difficult but I have actually found it very smooth. I love seeing patients improve almost immediately after their surgeries. That gives me great satisfaction.
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