A day in the life of a Medigold Occupational Health Nurse – Meet Elizabeth Heyes!

What does a typical workday look like for you at Medigold Health?

My workdays at Medigold are very varied, which I enjoy. I mainly work on case management, supporting employees and businesses to manage health conditions within the workplace. I also often work on client sites, providing face-to-face occupational health appointments for case management, health surveillance, vaccinations and serology.

I will typically complete up to nine assessments a day, which has been made easier with the addition of a new system update – I don’t feel any pressure or stress doing this now!

I have admin time throughout the day, and I can always take a lunch break. We have the ability to reach out for support at any point of the day, and there is always a friendly face to offer advice and support, no matter who you speak to!

How do you start your day?

I always start with a brew and a smoothie!

Then I check my diary for the day. If I am working remotely, I will check my emails, answer any queries and check who the duty manager is for the day.

If I am completing remote case management, I will log into our system and briefly check who I will be seeing and what they are being referred for. No prep is required now as our case management system supports our clinicians by providing them with all the relevant information they need for the consultation ready in one place.

If I am working on a client site, I will set up and greet the staff on site and typically get ready for my clinic 30-60 minutes before it is due to start.

Are there any specific challenges or exciting aspects of your role that stand out?

Working completely remotely was a challenge to start with, especially when you are new to a company. However, everyone was very friendly and supportive. The training and induction were great as I got to meet other colleagues. I no longer feel isolated working from home, I feel part of the team!

It feels like a family in Medigold; everyone supports each other, no questions asked.

The most exciting part so far was being asked to support the development and rollout of our amazing new system. It has reduced extra hours of administration and prep work and reduced stress and pressure, and this is just the beginning! I have also been involved in training our clinicians on the system, which has been an amazing opportunity.

Can you share a memorable or rewarding moment from your recent experiences at Medigold Health?

There is only one answer for this: being continually recognised for my skills, strengths and talents from day one of starting at Medigold. This has now developed into me gaining an internal promotion to Nurse Manager, just eight months into my Medigold career. The support and development opportunities here are second to none.

How do you maintain a work-life balance while working in the occupational health sector?

I can log off at my finish time (5 pm) on most days, giving me my evenings and weekends to relax, spend time with friends and family or build Lego sets. Not having to work nights or weekends is a nice bonus in OH. We also have time to socialise as a team if we want to.

Many of my colleagues work condensed hours, which allows them to have an additional day off per week.

Are there any specific tips or advice you would give to someone interested in a similar career path?

Do it! Make the leap into OH. I’m so glad I did, and I’ll never do anything else. Don’t worry about experience; you have transferrable skills and knowledge you can draw on.

I’m an RMN by training and then became a Disability Assessor for the DWP before leaping into OH as a trainee Occupational Health Advisor. 

Medigold is very supportive; the best company I have worked with for support and development by far!

The OH community is lovely, and we help and support all of our colleagues, no matter the company they work for.

If you:

• Are happy to speak to people every day
• Can take a detailed history
• Can use a computer
• Are willing to learn

We can teach you the rest.

Feel free to contact me at lizzie.heyes@medigold-health.com if you would like to chat or ask me any questions about a career in OH!