We caught up with Sara, lead electronic patient record (EPR) for cellular pathology and senior biomedical scientist.
Sara supports the integration of our EPR project, within diagnostics and helping to develop the laboratory information management system for eye pathology. In her role as a biomedical scientist she also ensures accurate sample processing.
Every small improvement we make helps us deliver better, more sustainable eye care at scale. Seeing the real impact of our work on patients' lives makes me understand my job and the importance of the teamwork makes the dream work!
Has there been one example or situation which has made you feel an additional sense of pride working at Moorfields and why?
One experience that really stood out to me was meeting an incredibly inspiring person who has sight loss and hearing about their journey. The care they received at Moorfields was so highly spoken of. It was amazing to see first-hand the impact of our work has on people's lives. It made me feel incredibly proud to be part of a team that not only provides top-quality care but also treats every patient with compassion and respect.
When you’re not working what do you like to do?
When I'm not working, I really love to be creative and stay active! I enjoy going for walks, diving into a good book or series, and spending time with friends. I also have a passion for DIY projects, painting, and pottery, they're great ways to unwind and increase my focus and creativity in troubleshooting. Swimming is another favourite of mine as it helps me relax and recharge.
What is the best piece of advice you've been given and how has this helped you?
"You need to get out the island to see the island."
To me, this means stepping back to gain perspective, whether in work or life. It has helped me approach challenges with a fresh mindset, understanding challenges, be open to new ideas, and see the bigger picture. Taking a step back often leads to better solutions, and better understanding which brings a clear and more relaxed mind to the game.
Kindness is one of our values. What does this mean to you and how do you strive for it in your everyday working life? Can you give an example of how you have been kind?
To me, kindness is about showing empathy, respect, and support to everyone, whether it's patients, colleagues, or anyone I interact with. In my everyday work, I am always approachable, try to listen to others, and offer help whenever I can. Kindness isn't just about grand gestures, it's about creating a positive environment where everyone feels supported and respected.
How do you personally try and create a better work/life balance?
Work life balance is one of the most difficult balances to keep when you're passionate about your job. For me, setting boundaries is the first step, you need to define your work hours and stick to them, and do take your breaks as they help to refresh the mind and maintain productivity.
Secondly you should understand the importance of prioritising and delegating tasks to reduce the stress of the workload. At last, make sure you always keep personal priorities of wellbeing, always support physical and mental health outside of work.
How do you support our Greener NHS ambitions by working in ways which have positive social and environmental impacts, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from travel, energy use and waste?
Reducing waste was always my first approach, at work we do reduce a lot of waste in the lab with using more reusable options instead of disposable options.
At home, I do always try to buy second hand, we always recycle and reduce waste by using bar soaps instead of liquid body wash or shampoo, we use refillable detergents and we go to the butchers and fishmongers, as well as food market to buy fresh vegetables and fruits that do not come in plastic containers, this has indeed helped a lot on the waste reduction! Simple swaps that help the environment and your wallet too. All simple steps are steps in this journey.