Nursing is in my blood We caught up with Danielle Welsh, Ward Manager of the Day Case and Surgical Elective Admission Lounge (SEAL), who has worked at Broadgreen for 20 years – following her nan, mum and sister into nursing. “It’s a real honour to be able to look after someone at their most vulnerable time – in what other job can you get to do that? Many patients have a real impact on you and you never forget them. “I’ve honestly never thought about another career, it’s in my blood. My nan, mum and sister are all nurses. Nan worked as an auxiliary nurse as it was known back then at Aintree, and my mum worked at Newsham Park before moving to Broadgreen – where she still works part-time now. She’s a parttime nurse, and full-time nanna! “I knew from a very young age that I would go into nursing. Growing up I would come and visit the wards my mum worked on. It’s funny as some of my colleagues here have known me since I was born! I’ve learnt a lot from them all, they’ve helped me become who I am today and had a massive impact on my career. “Orthopaedics had always interested me and it’s where I’ve always worked. I’ve been at Broadgreen for 20 years now. It’s rewarding being part of a patient’s journey, getting to know them and understand what it is that’s led them to surgery. We meet patients who require orthopaedic surgery, limb reconstruction surgery and general surgery on our unit. “I was a patient at the Trust myself 12 years ago; it was so strange to see it from another perspective. The care I got was amazing, the staff in Intensive Care Unit at the Royal saved my life. I had just
10 | LUHFT Life
given birth to my twin daughters and developed Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets (HELLP) syndrome, a rare liver and blood clotting disorder, and needed emergency care. I didn’t get to meet my babies until two weeks later, when I had been moved to the High Dependency Unit. “Some of the anaesthetists I work with at Broadgreen were on call the night I was brought in, and it’s so lovely to see them again. They always ask about the twins too. “Because of my blood condition, during COVID-19 I couldn’t work on any of the COVID-19 wards, so I managed the temporary step-down unit (Agnes Jones) in the new Royal. I met loads of people here I would never have normally met in my career – everyone was brilliant. From community and dental nurses, to consultants who came out of retirement – it was a great team. However, I was glad to come back to my second home here on the Day Case at Broadgreen. “Through the Trust, I’ve recently gone part-time at Liverpool John Moores University to study Leadership and Management at Masters level. My sister and I didn’t know that we had both applied, and we’ve both been selected! We’re on different career paths, but at least we can share the books. It’s like being back at school again, except it’s both me and my kids doing the homework of an evening now!”
