Hello, my name is Chris Bill and I am one of the Associate Directors of Nursing at Newcastle Hospitals.
My key roles include supporting the digital maturity of the organisation and acting as the bridge between IT staff and nursing, midwifery and AHP colleagues to ensure their voice is heard in the digital space and that what we do with the EPR works for those who use it.
I originally trained at Teesside University and qualified in 2008. During my training I spent the majority of my placements in Darlington Memorial Hospital and when I qualified, started my career as a staff nurse there on the Medical Admissions Unit where I progressed over time to a Junior Charge Nurse.
My ambition had always been to work in a large inner city hospital and in 2012 I was appointed as a Senior Charge Nurse at the Freeman Hospital on Ward 16 which specialises in Gastroenterology, substance misuse and patients with nutritional absorption problems.
Although a challenging, I found this specialty incredibly rewarding given the positive impact we were able to have on such a diverse patient group.
In 2015 I moved across the city to the RVI to work on the Assessment Suite as I missed the fast pace and diversity of patients that present requiring urgent medical treatment. During my time there I was successfully appointed into a Matron position overseeing Assessment Suite and Same Day Emergency Care where I stayed for five years.
Enhancing the patient experience
Delivering high standards of care and developing staff has always been a strong passion of mine and these roles gave me the opportunity to positively influence clinical standards to a high degree, undoubtedly enhancing the patient experience – one of the greatest rewards you can experience in nursing.
Since September 2021 I have been working as the Associate Director of Nursing – Chief Nursing Information Officer, part time alongside my Matron portfolio. Digital technology has always been a growing interest for me and I enjoy being able to shape and influence how nursing will increasingly use digital healthcare to improve patient safety, clinical practice and more importantly patient experience.
Although a very challenging role it is equally rewarding and I enjoy being at the forefront of health innovation of this outstanding organisation.
Responsibilities
- Supporting the digital maturity of the organisation whilst ensuring this does not impact on our outstanding standards.
- Being the bridge between clinical staff and IT staff to ensure what we do with the EPR works for those who use it.
- Engaging with Nursing, Midwifery and AHP colleagues to ensure that their voice is heard in the digital space. Supporting the development of their ideas to enhance patient experience and improve staff workflows.
- Networking with other trusts around the country to ensure we can learn from what they have done to make a positive impact in our organisation.
- Contributing to varies trust wide projects where digital transformation is embedded within.
- Providing knowledge and support to colleagues in a digital capacity but also in wider topics.
- Working collaboratively with our IT colleagues to create and support the delivery of the Trust digital strategy.
