Continuing The Cycle of Kindness: Ann-Marie’s HCA UK Story
Ann-Marie started her career as a physiotherapist, but her passion for helping both patients and colleagues led her to leadership. Now, she’s worked her way up to Inpatient Therapy Lead and she’s not stopping there.
She shares her story of starting out, being mentored by amazing mangers and passing that kindness along to her team, helping them grow too.
How long have you been working here?
I've been working at HCA UK for twelve years now. It’s funny, I initially joined on a one-year fixed contract, but I loved the environment so much that I extended it and I’m still here. Over the years, there’s been so many opportunities to develop, I’ve kept progressing and it’s always felt fresh.
How did you get started?
I started as a physiotherapist, working in different NHS hospitals for 10 years. Early on, I was living in Kent and working in Watford, so there wasn’t much of a work-life balance. I did some research and HCA UK stood out. From day one, I made the effort and helped my lead wherever I could, because I wanted to support people as much as possible. That was recognised and I moved into leadership roles, which eventually led me to where I am today.
What’s your role and what do you do day-to-day?
I am currently the Interim Head of Therapies whilst continuing my role as the Inpatient Therapy Lead for Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy across the London Bridge campus. That includes London Bridge Hospital and Guy’s Hospital. My role is about managing inpatient therapists, making sure the team have the support and resources they need to provide the best care they can. I have oversight on lots of different teams and I work closely with them to adapt and shape our ways of working.
The Interim Head of Therapies role is allowing me to have more oversight over all therapies including Dietetics and Speech and Language therapy which I really enjoy, learning more about these teams has been very positive for me. I oversee the business objectives for the wider therapy department, and this is enabling me to grow as a leader.
What do you enjoy the most?
Being part of developing people’s skills and seeing them reach their full potential is rewarding. If they are at their best, they can give great care to our patients, so it’s a win-win. I’ve personally had a manger who supported me in taking on a new role as Head of Therapy. It was a role that I didn’t feel confident about, but they helped show me that I was ready to move up. That’s brilliant management and it set an example to me that I still follow to this day.
Can you tell us about the people you work with?
The people at HCA UK are incredibly supportive. It sounds cheesy, but it does feel like a family. Everyone helps each other and lifts one another’s spirits at challenging times. You don’t get that everywhere. When I joined HCA UK, I saw how engaged people were. I felt that there was a great community here and for the last twelve years, we’ve built upon that.
Have you taken advantage of your benefits?
Absolutely! I think we’re well looked after as colleagues here. The private health insurance is the big one for me. I haven’t needed to use it for anything major, thankfully, but if I ever need a check-up or tests, I can get them done within twenty-four to forty-eight hours. That makes such a difference. Ultimately, that insurance keeps everyone here healthier and at their best. It’s a huge part of why HCA UK stands out as an employer.
“The patients get the best out of us, but we get the best out of working at HCA UK. I've worked in lots of places, and you can't always give the best care. At HCA UK, we have the time, training and support to do just that. You can't beat that as a clinician.”
Do you have any standout stories?
There was a colleague who relocated from Africa with her husband and two children for her first job here. It was a huge adjustment for her. I think she was struggling initially. I wanted to be there for her. I made sure she had someone to talk to. We went for walks and coffees, informal things. I think I helped her see she wasn’t alone. In the end, she went on to become a lead herself and to have played a small part in her journey just feels great.
What makes you stay at HCA UK?
The standards of care at HCA UK are exceptional. Patients get the best possible treatment, and as a clinician, that’s incredibly rewarding. But it’s not just about patient care, HCA UK genuinely looks after its colleagues. There are great benefits, development opportunities and a strong sense of community. The loyalty works both ways: if you work hard and show dedication, HCA UK is there for you in return.
What’s next for you?
I am currently in an Interim role and with time I would like a head of department role here at LBH, on a permanent basis, I’m not in a rush however as I also love and enjoy my role as Inpatient Lead, so my main objective moving forward is to keep showing up, working hard and taking whatever opportunities I can to progress, develop and challenge myself.