Meet our MWL People
Join us as we showcase our amazing MWL People, working in a wide range of areas across the Trust.
- Allen Abraham, click here to read more
Allen is a Teledermatology Care Technician, supporting patients through innovative dermatology services across the Trust.
“Working for the NHS has always been a dream of mine, and I’m incredibly proud to be part of the team at MWL. Every day, I have the opportunity to support patients and work alongside dedicated colleagues who are committed to delivering outstanding care.
My role involves running Teledermatology clinics and capturing high-quality clinical images of moles, skin lesions or rashes. I support the patient journey from referral through to follow-up, ensuring patients are informed about processes, assisting with completion of their medical history, and preparing them for potential face-to-face appointments.
One of the most exciting aspects of my role is working on the AI-powered teledermatology platform. It’s rewarding to be part of a service that uses new technology to help patients access specialist care quickly and efficiently. It allows specialists to quickly triage who needs to be seen face-to-face and who can be safely discharged.
Knowing that the work I do contributes to earlier diagnoses, improved patient experiences, and better outcomes is the best part of my job.”
- Garry Beech, click here to read more
Garry is a volunteer at Whiston Hospital.
“I’ve been a volunteer here for 10 years now, ever since I retired. It was my partner’s idea – she’s worked at St Helens Hospital for over 40 years, so we’ve had a really long term relationship with the Trust. I thought it would be a great way of staying active, and it gets me out of bed in the morning.
“My role is a meet and greeter. I like being the first face people see when they arrive, helping people who might be a bit lost and not sure where to go. I also do medication runs for pharmacy, and I’m wheelchair trained so I can help our patients get around.
“I love coming here, I come in as often as I can! I’m happy to fill in gaps if other volunteers can’t make it in. The best part of the role is the people, you speak to visitors from all walks of life, and no day is the same. I love having a laugh with the other volunteers too. I’d absolutely encourage someone who was thinking about volunteering to join us”.
- Joe Pink, click here to read more
Joe is a Buyer in our Procurement team and works in our Knowsley offices.
“I’ve been at the Trust since 2019 and I’ve had several different roles in that time. I started as a Receptionist and doing general admin support, which I did at both Whiston Hospital and St Helens Hospital. After that I moved to Materials Management, which is all about making sure we have the correct clinical supplies for the staff looking after our patients – mainly disposable things like dressings and needles.
“For the last couple of years I’ve been working as a Buyer. When staff need a particular product, it’s our job to work with suppliers to get the best quality item for the most affordable price. Different members of our team have responsibility for different areas of the hospital, and mine is surgery, so these are life-saving products.
“I love it here at the Trust. I’ve seen how skilled our staff are, and how much they care about providing the best care. I feel really happy to be part of Procurement too, I couldn’t wish for a better team. We were one of the first teams to come together when we became MWL, and I just think we work better than ever. If someone said they were thinking about joining the Trust, I’d say grab the opportunity with both hands, you won’t regret it”.
- Caroline Coletto, click here to read more
Caroline is one of the Trust’s MRI Lead Radiographers.
“I’ve been at the Trust for 8 years now in the Radiology Department. My role is specifically focused on MRI safety. Making sure that the patients we scan and the staff working in those areas are safe is a key part of my role. The scan room and surrounding work spaces are classed as controlled areas because the scanner is a very powerful magnet. As well as performing scans, part of my role includes ensuring our radiology policies and procedures meet safety regulations.
“MRI safety is a developing area, which is why I find it so interesting. In the past, we wouldn’t have dreamed of scanning patients who have a pacemaker fitted for example, but now we are able to do this safely if MRI conditional. This opens up the benefits of MRI scanning to more patients. As we’re an acute hospital with an A&E Department, you never know who will come through the door, which means every day is different.
“Our department mixes with a lot of different teams which is fab. We work alongside clinical psychology for patients who experience claustrophobia, to provide them with support including coping techniques and therapy. We also work with the Pacing Team, who are pacemaker specialists, and Radiology nurses who monitor patients during scans and the Theatre teams. The best part of my job is getting to interact with our patients and help them on their patient journeys by producing good quality diagnostic images.
“I first came to the Trust on an Open Day, and I really liked the feel of the place. I could have applied to another hospital closer to home, but I didn’t want to work anywhere else. When you qualify as a radiographer you mainly perform x-rays, so while I’ve been here I’ve learnt to do CT scanning, and MRI scanning too. The Trust has been really supportive of my training and I have achieved my post graduate certificate and qualified as an MRI Safety Officer. I want to continue progressing in this area, there’s so much to keep learning”.
- Wendy Heyes, click here to read more
Wendy is our Wheelchair Service Administrator, and has worked in the team for over 20 years.
“When people come to our service, one of our therapists assesses them, and writes a prescription for the sort of wheelchair they require. It’s my responsibility to order it, and make sure that we provide a wheelchair that meets their specific needs. Some patients have very specialist needs, for instance a seat that is moulded specifically for them and supports their posture.
“I think the youngest patient I’ve provided a wheelchair for was 4 years old, and the oldest was 104! It’s lovely to see the smiles on the children’s faces – some I recognise as they grow up and come back for larger wheelchairs, and it’s really nice to build a rapport over time. Though we’re out in the community we have very good relationships with other teams in the Trust, such as our colleagues in the Spinal Injuries Unit, and occupational therapists, and we get referrals from Therapies, District Nurses, and GPs.
“I’ve really enjoyed taking on new responsibility over my career. I love getting positive feedback, I’ve been called the ‘mum’ of the service! Knowing that the role I do, I’ve done my bit for our patients, that gives me a lot of job satisfaction. My husband used to work here too doing wheelchair repairs before he retired – I would order the wheelchairs and he would refurbish them! I could retire myself in a few years, but I find it hard to think about leaving here, and I couldn’t ever see myself working anywhere else”.
- Matt Black, click here to read more
Matt is a Senior Therapy Assistant at Southport Hospital.
“I started working at Southport Hospital a few months ago and it’s been great so far. I’m based on an acute trauma and orthopaedic ward, where we work with patients who have had fractures, dislocations, and total hip or knee replacements. The patients on our ward haven’t planned to be here, they’re here because of accidents or injuries. Our shared goal is to get them back on their feet and back home as soon as possible.
“My role as a Senior Therapy Assistant is to support the qualified therapists in the team. This involves things like helping the safe movement and transfer of patients, ensuring proper positioning in bed to prevent pressure sores, supporting their mobility out of bed, and issuing out or ordering in the correct equipment to ensure patients are going to be safe once discharged from the hospital.
“I graduated from my Sport Rehabilitation degree in 2021 from Leeds Beckett University. I have since worked self-employed in private physiotherapy clinics, and for amateur sports teams in addition to part-time work for the NHS community stroke team in Warrington. It’s a really different experience here in the hospital – a quicker pace, and the sense of working alongside the rest of the multi-disciplinary team. I feel we really complement each other. I like the buzz of the hospital but it’s understandable that our patients can find it a little scary to be here so we do all we can to help them feel safe and comfortable.
“I’ve always been interested in caring for people, it’s really rewarding. The team here has a big part to play for me, I’ve only recently started but they’ve welcomed me with open arms, making me feel involved and included, and helping me with building hands-on experience”.