We like to showcase the different roles we have at DHU by introducing to you our brilliant people and today we’re going to visit our Oldbury 111 Advice Centre at Birchfield House.
Hannah Lawrence is a 111 Health Advisor, supporting our patients with essential advice and signposting to ensure they get the right treatment at the right place. Here’s what Hannah told us about her role…
“I used to be a qualified carer and beauty therapist, looking after two ladies in particular who had Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, COPD. I ran a salon in Black Heath before I had a daughter and then took time out to focus on my children and family. I was a stay-at-home Mum for ten years but when I went back to work, I decided that I wanted a career change.
“I have always had an interest in healthcare and looked after my Nan when she became ill just before the pandemic. It felt really rewarding taking care of her and it made me want to move into the health industry, that’s what I was looking for.
“I was in the Job Centre and saw that DHU was taking over the 111 service in the West Midlands, were looking to recruit and I was very interested. I like to think of myself as a people person and love talking so 111 seemed like an ideal fit for me.
“I’ve been at DHU for just over a year now and I am looking to progress, there are lots of career paths I can take but I want to make sure I take my time and get things right. I’m going to look at starting to take extra courses to improve my clinical knowledge, the clinical side is something that really interests me. There are lots of people I can speak to who can advise and help me to make sure I’m doing the right things to develop my career the way I want to.
“I’ve enjoyed working at DHU. The people here are fantastic, supportive and always available to give advice and their values resonated with me when I was looking for a place to work. The training I received to be able to do this job was amazing and the people I qualified with, we were able to support and help each other. I feel like part of a family here, I’m so pleased I saw the advert and decided to apply.”