The Theatres Department at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital have recently had two new additions to their leadership team.

Claire Heathfield and David Blackwell have both joined the management structure in the Oswestry-based hospital’s operating department.

Claire, who has taken on the role of Recovery Manager, has worked at RJAH since January 2006 as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP).

Claire said: “I’m delighted to have been successful in becoming the new Recovery Manager in Theatres.

“When I trained as an ODP, I had the opportunity to experience roles in anaesthetics, scrub and recovery which made me realise I would like to work as part of a Recovery team in the future.”

The team in Recovery see patients post-surgery and ensure they are fit enough following their operation to be moved onto a ward or back to the day surgery unit.

Claire said: “I’m really excited to take on this new challenge and it’s an amazing opportunity to develop my career further.

“I have such a passion for being directly involved with a patients care and working in Recovery allows me to have that patient contact.”

David is also a qualified ODP and has joined RJAH as the new Anaesthetics Practitioner Manager.

David said: “I’ve previously worked in the private healthcare sector as a Healthcare Assistant before training and qualifying as an ODP.

“I also spent around a year working at RJAH from 2013 – 2014 in Theatres as an ODP – a position which I really enjoyed and made me realise I wanted to return to the hospital.

“I was absolutely thrilled to hear I was offered the position as the new Anaesthetics Practitioner Manager and I’m really enjoying my role so far.”

David’s role involves him managing the anaesthetic team who are the involved with patients care prior to their surgery by supporting Consultant Anaesthetists, assessing patients and preparing equipment, devices and drugs which may be needed during surgery.

David said: “I’m extremely keen to further develop the work that’s been carried out around efficiency and safety of the anaesthetic department in Theatres.”

Amanda Peet, Clinical Services Manager, said: “It’s great to have both Claire and David join the team up in Theatres.

“They both bring so much to the leadership team in the department and have so many innovative and creative ideas to help us further improve our practice.”

Pictured: Claire Heathfield and David Blackwell in Theatre.