Charlotte McDonald

Employer: NHS National Services Scotland

Qualifications: BSc geology, Durham University; MA environmental analysis and assessment, University of London

9.00 am

The first thing I do is to look at my e-mails, updating my diary with meetings that I need to attend and replying to any requests. Today I need to make amendments to a training strategy before it is circulated and complete a proposal for a new post.

10.00 am

My job involves a number of key responsibilities; one of them is to reduce the ward sickness absence in line with national targets so I compile a summary of the ward sickness absence in the last week, manipulating the data and putting it into tables to take with me to my team meeting.

10.30 am

Most days there will be a meeting that I need to attend, usually for information-sharing purposes but sometimes to determine strategies or make policy decisions. Today I am attending a meeting relating to my work on delayed discharges (people who are still in hospital but who are medically fit and are ready for discharge). The meeting is between health services and the local authority to discuss some of the problems and come up with solutions. When I return to my desk I work on the action points I have from the meeting, chasing up the information a colleague requested and writing up my notes.

2.00 pm

In the afternoon I speak to the charge nurses on the ward about sickness absence and other problems they are facing before sitting in on a return-to-work interview, which highlights any additional support we could be giving. When I get back to my desk I consider how to improve motivation possibly through the introduction of awards for people who are doing well.

5.00 pm

I check my e-mails again and ensure I have dealt with anything urgent before leaving the office a little earlier than usual because I have an essay to work on for my masters in healthcare management and leadership. I’ll be meeting the other management trainees later to discuss our essays and generally catch-up.