Jen Schofield
A nurse who set up a telephone triage system to support women requiring a coil has received a Going The Extra Mile award.
Jennifer Schofield, Senior Sexual Health Nurse based at the Blackpool Sexual Health Services operating from Whitegate Drive Health Centre, has worked over several years to establish the telephone triage system for patients looking to have a coil fitted.
Prior to this all patients were booked in to be seen in person, and sometimes the appointment would be unnecessary, for instance if there were reasons the fitting couldn’t be carried out.
Jen volunteered to help, producing the necessary template documents for the service, and carrying out a three month trial.
She then proceeded to train colleagues to work in the triage service, and over more than three years has helped expand and improve it.
She explained: “When the idea was first put forward, I volunteered to help and as I had created the template documents I wanted to be involved in the triage service itself.
“I learned all about the different coils and their effects on the body, and as time progressed I started to train other members of staff. Then it was like a ripple in the water once other people were able to do it.
“Since then we’ve changed details like making more time slots available for the telephone clinic. It’s been audited and has been recognised as a very beneficial thing – a lot of ladies are getting much better care from it, and we’re receiving positive feedback from patients and staff.”
Jen was nominated by her colleague Gill West, who wrote: “Jennifer has been instrumental in advancing the coil telephone triage system within Blackpool Sexual Health Services and her standard of work within this is exemplary.”
Going The Extra Mile is an initiative designed to help staff highlight the incredible work that goes on in the Trust every day.