I joined the Trust as a senior accredited clinical coder in July 2023 but discovered my love of coding when I first started working in the NHS back in 2008 as a medical records clerk. I was offered the opportunity to take a foundation coding course, and wasn’t sure what to expect, but found it so interesting and never looked back!

I’ve always said I’m a bit of a nerdy introvert who loves to read and loves to know the “why” of how things work, and coding is perfect for that. In my role, I’m responsible for recording information about every patient who visits Clatterbridge, investigating all aspects of their journey from start to finish, whether they’ve been with us for a few hours as a day case, or 100 days for a stem cell transplant.

But this job isn’t just about data entry; you need to know what to look for, have a keen eye for detail, be patient, and be able to prioritise your work. Loving the specifics is important, as what we do impacts everything else, from audits to assurance rates. I see myself as a bit of a detective, making sure everything is as accurate as possible.

The most rewarding part of my role is knowing that what I do has a real impact - on clinical teams, finance, reporting, and more. It’s not a patient-facing role, but I feel the ripple effect of my work.

I’m lucky to have a great manager and team for support. We help each other out, especially during our daily 2pm query time, where we can ask for help and get through challenges together.

What I love most about Clatterbridge is the atmosphere - no matter the department, everyone is so lovely. I actually worked here as a medical records clerk previously but had to take a step back due to moving and it being too far to travel. But I always said I knew I wanted to come back, so when I saw a position become available, I jumped at the chance to work here again.

Whether you’re a staff member, a patient, a relative, you’re always made to feel important, and I think that’s really special.