Working on the frontline during a pandemic was never going to be easy. In a borough with the largest elderly population in London, staff at the Princess Royal university hospital (PRUH) in Bromley knew that they were going to face unprecedented challenges.
Respiratory consultant Dr Elizabeth Hadley, speaking after finishing a long shift administering the Covid-19 vaccine to patients in back-to-back clinics, says: “Covid did something for this hospital that was quite amazing. I always knew it was a good place to work, but the way the PRUH pulled together was incredible. Everybody stopped being in their own bubble – it was an amazing transformation. I felt like we were making a real difference. It was very motivating.”
A strong sense of belonging is the life-blood of this 512-bed district general hospital on the outskirts of London, which is part of the internationally renowned King’s College hospital NHS foundation trust. It’s not unusual for generations from the same family to spend their NHS careers at the PRUH. Indeed Hadley, 46, who was brought up in the borough, mentions that her mother worked there as a nurse. And, when she was 16, Hadley’s first summer job was as a receptionist in the hospital’s physiotherapy department.
“I feel part of this community. We are the local hospital for the local population – the PRUH doesn’t have any airs or graces,” she says. “A lot of the staff live locally and it’s their own local hospital. All my three children were born here and I’ve treated and managed people that I know – friends and old teachers.”
The familiarity among staff is one of the best reasons for working at the PRUH, she believes: “It’s a small place and people talk to each other. There are corridor conversations. There’s quite a family atmosphere – just yesterday I was talking to somebody who said: ‘I knew your mum.’”
This feeling of family is apparent at all levels, according to Hadley. “Our chief executive has been amazing. I have never worked with one before who is so engaged with staff and patients. Three times today he has been down to talk to us in the vaccine hub. He knows us by our first names. The support we have from the whole executive team is second to none.”
Covid has opened new career paths at the PRUH for Hadley. At the beginning of the first lockdown she was given “silver medic” status, which meant she had overall responsibility for the way the hospital dealt with Covid during the spring crisis. “It was a huge job,” she remembers.
Then in October her contribution was recognised when she was appointed clinical director for general medicine. She is one of three clinical directors – one for out-patients and specialists, one for surgery and one for general medicine. Each is supported by a general manager and a head of nursing, but carries overall responsibility for their department’s budget and its performance as well as its staff. The clinical directors report to the hospital’s medical director and chief executive.
Despite her new responsibilities, Hadley still practises but has reduced her number of weekly clinics from four to one. And she is being trained in developing the leadership skills she needs in her new senior position.
What makes these posts especially significant is that all the directors come from a clinical – not managerial – background. “It means that the trust has put doctors in charge of the hospital. That’s quite radical,” she says. “The vision here at the PRUH is that the hospital should be led and managed by doctors, which is quite a big transformation.
“And what it says is that the focus here is not on the money – it’s on the best care for patients. The decisions are being made by somebody who is looking at what the patient needs.”
Hadley’s vision for her division is to expand its geriatric services as Bromley has the highest number of over 65s in any London borough. “We’ve had 300 over-80s in for Covid vaccination – it’s a great place to work if you want to work in elderly care.”
On top of that, the borough is also a great place to live.
Bromley boasts good schools – both state and private – and it is only 10 or 15 minutes’ drive from the Kent countryside. There are also fast public transport links into central London.
For Hadley, though, it’s the PRUH that keeps her in the borough: “It’s a great place to work. There is a good work-life balance in the building. People talk to each other here – it’s not a place full of people doing their own thing. And staff are valued – particularly by the executive team.”
Find out more about the Princess Royal university hospital at pruh.kch.nhs.uk
