How I Became A… Clinical Audit & Informatics Manager at Kingsbridge Private Hospital

31st, Jan 2025

By Grace McEvoy, Clinical Audit and Informatics Manager at Kingsbridge Private Hospital Belfast

Give a brief outline of your career to date

After completing my Degree in Nursing at Edinburgh Napier University in 2019, I worked in the cardio thoracic high dependency unit in NHS Lothian for two years before the unit functioned as a General ICU during the Covid Pandemic. This was hugely challenging time but really built my resilience. While working I also studied for my Master of Science in Healthcare Management which I passed with Distinction. My devotion to nursing was equal to my desire to elevate my understanding of how the overall health system functioned including clinical governance, leadership and finance, human resource management and the wider sphere of international health and social care systems.

In 2021 I made the move back to Northern Ireland and joined Kingsbridge Private Hospital in Belfast, starting in the Recovery Unit where I thrived within the methodical environment, very much like the strict processes in the ICU.

After two years, I was appointed Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Nurse where I was responsible for advancing the service as the first standalone IPC Nurse for Kingsbridge in Belfast. During that time, I also studied for my Postgraduate Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control Nursing. This expanded into a much bigger remit which prompted Kingsbridge to develop a completely new position of Clinical Audit and Informatics Manager, the first role of its kind in Northern Ireland.

Of course, I applied for the job and luckily secured the position in July. This role entails the collection and analysis of key quantitative and qualitative data to produce reports that support the continued achievement of quality care for patients throughout Kingsbridge in Belfast.

What was your favourite subject in school?

I loved science and maths.

Did you go on to further/higher education? What did you study and where?

After completing my A levels I took a year out and studied an additional A level in Psychology before enrolling at Edinburgh Napier University where I undertook a three-year Nursing degree for which I received the Edinburgh Napier University Medal. As I undertook my first post as a qualified staff nurse, I enrolled in a Master of Science in Healthcare Management programme at Edinburgh Napier University which I graduated with Distinction in 2021. Most recently I graduated with First Class Honours from the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland in a Postgraduate Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control Nursing. I was further awarded the Sustainability Award for this Postgraduate Diploma, an award given to the student who places first amongst all Clinical Specialist Postgraduate Diploma programmes.

I’m a very driven person and seek to excel in everything I do, always aiming to achieve the best outcome whilst at all times working alongside to support my studies.

How did you get into your area of work?

My mum was a nurse and whenever I got the chance, I used to visit her at work and watch her practice. I was fascinated with every aspect of her job and knew from an early age that this was what I wanted to do. Despite being told of hard-working and possibly difficult career path of nursing, I was not deterred and made becoming a nurse my main focus.

Is this what you always wanted to do?

Absolutely! I can honestly say that this is my dream job. I love nursing but have also always had an analytical mind so having a role that allows me to use both my clinical and informatic skills is like winning the lottery! I have a real passion for quality improvement, working across all disciplines to establish policies and procedures to constantly improve standards in patient care. Gathering both quantitative and qualitative information from patient questionnaires allows Kingsbridge to monitor performance on an ongoing basis allowing us to constantly strive to be first class in every treatment and service we offer.

Where there any essential qualifications or experience needed?

A clinical background was required, be that a Nursing, physiotherapy or other qualification. Experience with using and applying healthcare policies, quality improvement practices and healthcare regulations was also essential.

Are there alternative routes into the job?

Anyone with a clinical background, a passion for quality care and a keen interest in all things digital would make a great candidate.

What are the main personal skills your job requires?

Communication in this role is key, as the data I aim to collect and analyse comes from varied sources across the multi-disciplinary team. To translate this data into language that speaks to everyone, clinical and non-clinical, it is important that I am engaged with all my colleagues.

What does a typical day entail?

I’m a big fan of a list - my day begins by checking up on the day previous and planning out what I need to achieve for that day. I am often working on reports that are completed across several days and so I aim to ensure my day is balanced to allow for incoming queries or requests. The foundation of my report writing is the prior data analysis, which is greatly facilitated by our in-house Kingsbridge Analytics database. It is the culmination of research to identify KPIs and clinical best practices, data synthesis and analysis that helps me to create reports that enthuse the quality of care at Kingsbridge.

What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?

It is so important that my colleagues see me as an extension of them. As a team we are totally committed to delivering the very best to all of our patients and being in a position to help them achieve this is immensely rewarding to me.

This role is unique in unique in Northern Ireland and so I feel a huge sense of responsibility but it’s a challenge I have embraced. Constantly improving my own skills and knowledge through continued study in my discipline – undertook a Master’s degree in 2021 in Healthcare Management, IPC postgraduate diploma – first class honours and was awarded the Sustainability Award for RCSI Nursing for gaining the highest marks overall across 29 clinical PG Diploma courses and a Microcredential in programming from the Open University in 2023.

Why is what you do important?

My input helps to consistently raise standards by using patient feedback and data and performance of our KPIs to further enhance excellence in levels of delivery of our healthcare services. As an in-house expert resource available to all clinicians and non-clinical staff my aim is to educate and enthuse our quality and achievements. By crafting reports for my colleagues that are easily interpreted, tailored to each individual discipline and area of work within the hospital I can ensure that everyone sees the value in what they are doing while using data from patients to drive world class standards in our day-to-day care for patients.

What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow a similar career path?

A clinical background is important alongside a keen interest in data management and an appreciation of how accurate and meaningful interpretation can positively impact upon significant improvements in how healthcare is delivered. A passion for pursuing and securing the very highest standards for patients while inspiring colleagues to help deliver these is an absolute necessity so interpersonal and motivational skills, the ability to adapt and consistently keep abreast of the latest developments in the sector are vital.

If you were not doing this, what would you like to do?

In nursing I feel like I have targeted by further education and training toward being right where I am, for which I am very grateful. However, if I was not doing this, I would be a PHD student. I was awarded a DofE studentship at Queen’s University in 2021 but chose to remain at Kingsbridge.

What is one piece of advice you would give yourself on your first day?

Make excel your best friend!

Describe your ideal day off?

My ideal day off would be a sunny walk along the coast with my dogs.

What is the key to any successful job search?

Knowing what type of role you want now and where you eventually want to end up is essential in any successful job search. Shaping your career over a period of time is crucial if you want to reach that final goal of landing your dream job. Treat each role as a step on that journey. I would recommend constantly looking for ways to expand your practical experience and academic qualifications to put you in control of your future and take every opportunity that is offered to you.

To view our current vacancies and to find out more about what it is like to work for Kingsbridge Private Hospital, please visit our Careers page at teamkph.com