Why I like working at NHS 24
Case Studies
We firmly believe that NHS 24 is a great place to work. However don’t just take our word for it! Here, a number of our colleagues give you their views on why they work at NHS 24 and what their roles here mean to them.
Louise McLaughlin
Nurse Adviser
“I’ve been at NHS 24 for nearly four years now, having previously worked at the Queen Mother’s Hospital in neonatal intensive care, although I did have a brief, four month interlude back in mainstream NHS in 2007. I came back because the shifts on the wards weren’t really suiting my lifestyle – I have a young family – and I’m now working on the Bank, with a minimum number of 6.75 hours to work each week, and the opportunity to top these up when suitable. In reality, I work nearly 20 hours each week and it still ties in much better with my family life.
Was it what I expected? To be truthful, no, it was completely different, and actually much better than I was expecting. Everyone in the wards tended to have a negative view of NHS 24, but I joined because it was a new service and something different. For me, having worked in the wards for many years I felt like a new challenge. It’s been the biggest learning curve I’ve ever had, going from a specialist area (neonatal) to dealing with a huge spectrum of people with every illness, condition etc imaginable. A lot of these conditions are ones you’ve never dealt before so there’s a lot of learning involved.
I’m happy doing what I’m doing just now as it suits me personally and it fits in with child care and my husband’s work. Would I recommend NHS 24? Well, when I went back to the Wards for four months I discovered that my nursing colleagues had no idea of the responsibility that comes with the job. I think it’s a cracking job, you learn such a lot and it’s so varied. I really do enjoy it.”
