I joined the Trust as a medical secretary in 2011, I can still remember the exact date – 31st October!

I’d previously been in Germany for 12 years as my husband was in the Army, and we’d moved 9 times in those 12 years, so I felt like I got a world of experience. From working in travel insurance, to special investigation, to a supermarket, it all really helped me gain a range of skills for the role I’m in now.

When we moved back to the UK, I saw the job advertised and it really stood out to me as I’ve had family members affected by cancer, and my mum used to work as a medical secretary at Clatterbridge too. So it felt like a full circle moment!

Being a medical secretary doesn’t just call for good typing skills, it’s about caring for patients as people behind the illness. It calls for incredible kindness and understanding when someone is going through the hardest time in their life and doing whatever you can to help. I love building a positive relationship with the patients I speak to by treating them how I’d like to be treated myself during a tough time. I want them to know there’s no such thing as a silly question – I don’t know everything, but I can certainly try my best to point them in the right direction.

The patients are definitely the most rewarding part of the job, everything I do is to benefit them.

I also work with a great team who’ve helped me broaden my own knowledge of cancer, as I believe you truly get out what you put in. Knowing I can give someone on the end of the phone some clarity because I have the understanding and the ability to help is a great feeling.

It’s sometimes challenging to find the balance between being empathic whilst remaining professional, because you do build that rapport with patients and get to hear their stories.

But it’s so varied, the team are awesome, we all work so well together, and I know I can go to any of them for support. I just really enjoy the job, that’s why I’ve stayed so long!