NHS 75! Jessica’s story: from patient to the Clinical Genetics Team

In celebration of the 75^th anniversary of the NHS, we are sharing the stories of some of our incredible healthcare staff across the UK who were inspired by the care they received as children, to work for the NHS today.

Stories like these remind us of the impact that excellent healthcare experiences can have on inspiring future generations to enter healthcare professions and continue to provide world-class care to children and young people across the UK.  

Jessica Morley, Booking Coordinator for the Clinical Genetics Team at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Jessica was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis at the age of 12, a chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) where abnormal reactions of the immune system cause inflammation and ulcers on the inner lining of the large intestine.

Inspired by the care she received at such a busy time of her life while starting secondary school, Jessica started working for the Trust in 2009 as a Medical Records Clerk and progressed to Clinical Genetics for Sheffield Children’s OPD2 at the Northern General Hospital (NGH) as a Booking Coordinator.

Jessica said: “In 1997 I visited my GP after being in severe pain and losing a lot of blood. Luckily for me and my parents, the GP had an inkling what the issue could be and made the referral straight away.

“As a young girl starting at secondary school, having flare ups of my disease was really difficult to handle at such a tricky time. There was a lot of time spent in hospital with various treatments and lots of different tablets to take. The staff including the nursing team were wonderful and did an amazing job caring for me and teaching me how to manage my illness.”

Further down the line, when Jessica saw an opportunity at Sheffield Children’s Western Bank hospital site as a Medical Records Clerk in July 2009, she leapt at the chance to work there. 

She added: “After 10 years in that role, I made the move to Clinical Genetics to become a Booking Clerk based at the Northern General Hospital in the Children’s Outpatients Department. I still keep in contact with many colleagues that I worked with on the hospital site.  

Jessica’s work includes day to day booking for consultants, counsellors and specialist registrars (SPRs) for Clinical Genetics clinics at OPD2 and at our various clinic locations. She also handles enquiries from patients, so if you’re a new referral or current patient with the service you might encounter her friendly face!

Jessica said: “My seven year old daughter was recently cared for by the fabulous Dermatology team and I wouldn’t recommend anywhere else to work or take a patient.

“Sheffield Children’s means a lot to me for my medical history and for my family. Not only are they there for the patients, but the support my family received in understanding and how to manage my conditions was incredible!”