Meet Sophie – the new co-ordinator

At the meeting on 4 June, we were delighted to welcome Sophie Carpenter who is the new co-ordinator working closely with Bev Kirkham and Jayne Lifford in the IBD Team at the hospital. Since the meeting, Sophie has written the following to explain a bit more about her role and background. It’ll be great to have another opportunity to meet her at our next meeting.

“With regards to my new role, I have been answering the helpline so when patients initially call, they will speak to me. I take down all the details and can check bloods/stool sample results on the system. If patients need to speak to a nurse or are flaring, and a nurse is not available, they will be called back or I will discuss with the nurses and call back with an update.

I am booking follow-up clinic appointments when a patient has been seen by an IBD nurse. I have been looking at all the clinics and the waiting list to try and see if patients are well and don’t necessarily need to be seen in clinic then perhaps they could be followed up in a telephone clinic.

I have been adding patients onto the IBD Registry, a national database. We will be getting around to sending out consent forms for all IBD patients along with a letter outlining what the database is for. This is optional for patients.

I’ve worked for the NHS for 5 years. My previous role was in Parkside, the private suite at Frimley. I applied for this role because I wanted a new challenge and I am really looking forward to developing the role and improving the IBD service and making the experience better for the patients.

I love working for the NHS because I like helping people!

I will hopefully be able to make the group meeting on 10 September.”