LUHFT Life - April 2022

Pandemic provided new opportunities

For Helen Messham, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a change in her career path and she’s never looked back.

“I get up in the morning and look forward to coming into work because I enjoy my job so much. I’ve learnt so much and have been able to get involved with things that I never thought I’d get the chance to do,” said Helen, who is a Clinical Vaccination Coordinator at Aintree.

“It’s such a rewarding role, every day is different, and you feel like you are making a positive difference in the community. I’ve also been lucky enough to learn so much by meeting people with health conditions that I may not have crossed paths with otherwise.

“I started my nurse training in 1986 in the Royal, which was Liverpool School of Nursing at the time. I worked on CCU (Coronary Care) for 11 years prior to becoming a school nurse focussing on child health. In 2019, a full-time role working as a Registered Practitioner came up in Axess Sexual Health and I jumped at the opportunity. However, not long after that, the pandemic started.

“For the past six years, I have administered the flu vaccine walkarounds on the wards. So when the COVID-19 vaccination programme began I would come and help on a weekend and my afternoon off. When I was approached to take on a secondment role as Clinical Vaccination Coordinator at Aintree’s vaccination hub, it was a great opportunity to learn new things and I agreed to take up the post.

“The job was completely new to me, prior to this I’d never even managed a team. Now there are around 100 vaccinators spanning across the three vaccination hub sites: Aintree,

the Royal and the Pier Head. I work alongside the Associate Director of People (Occupational Health and Wellbeing), Diane Haddock, to manage staffing rotas and ensure there is a range of staff skill sets at each site.

“A typical day is making sure all the hubs are staffed, my colleagues are happy and that everywhere is well stocked. I am also here as a support for clinical advice. I do go in and administer vaccines as well from time-to-time - I’m more than happy to muck in!

“Aintree is an enhanced hub, which means that we vaccinate those who can’t attend community hubs for health reasons. I am the point of contact for this, and it’s wonderful being able to support people from across our local community to have their vaccine.

“There has been some hesitation towards the COVID-19 vaccine. Another part of my job has been assisting with a staff support helpline, alongside academic colleagues at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Although challenging at times, the helpline was extremely successful in bringing individuals forward for their vaccine. I love that I am able to look back on how far we have come and everything that the vaccination team has achieved.”