Healthwatch Wokingham Borough spends 5 minutes with senior figures in the local health and care sector, finding out their priorities, challenges and achievements.
Synexus is the world’s leading company working within Phase 3 – 4 Clinical Research. In simple terms, Synexus are the final stepping stone. Mark Foster, Site Manage,r talks about his role..
Q:Describe your role in one sentence…
I am the Operations Manager for Synexus Thames Valley; I ensure that our site is fit for purpose and that our staff and patients are safe.
Q:Why did you want to work in healthcare?
I’ve always had a passion for working within the healthcare arena whether in an NHS, Private or Research Centre. My current role allows me to offer ground-breaking clinical research to patients within our local area, something in which I am very proud to promote.
Q:My proudest achievement at work was…
Over my working carer, I have worked with a number of great people. Things have not always started well though and I can remember joining a team within a Foundation Trust Hospital who had had countless interim managers in the past. It was a real struggle in the early days to integrate and get them round to my way of thinking however, with persistence, and an attitude for positive change, it was overcome and I was proud to have left that particular department in much better hands then when I started. I am still in regular contact with the team in question and I still find myself being asked for feedback on challenges they face.
Q:The biggest challenge facing the NHS is ...
Financial Costs and being unable to improve wastage. I spent a number of years working within the NHS in both Primary and Secondary Care. I found it extremely frustrating the ‘red-tape’ and delays that are involved when wanting to make improvements. Many of my colleagues feel the same way however, I am hopeful that as running costs increase, and the UK’s population live longer, the NHS will start to empower there leaders to make positive and efficient changes.
Q:The people I work with are ...
Amazing! I have an extremely dedicated team of Doctors, Nurses and Clerical Staff. All are as dedicated to research as I am and proud to work for Synexus.
Q:I do what I do because...
I am passionate about creating a better future for my and future generations.
Q:Sometimes people think that we...
Are only in it for the money! As a private company, we do have a bottom line that we need to ensure stays positive. This however doesn’t mean that we don’t invest our profits. Our aim is to be ‘The Patients Choice for Clinical Research’ and to do this, we need to invest in our staff, recruitment methods and ensure we have the best facilities available for patients.
Q:Right now we want to...
Grow our patient database. We plan to do this by;
- Increasing and building on our recruitment methods
- Working with local communities
- Collaborating with General Practitioners
- Supporting local charities
Q:At work I’m always learning that...
So many opportunities within clinical research still need exploring. I am hopeful that as Synexus expands, we can focus on these areas and make a real different to the worlds medicine.
Q:The one thing always on my mind at work is ...
Are we doing all we can for patients?
Q:If I could go back 10 years and meet my former self, I’d tell them…
Stick with your choices! I’m immensely happy with where I’ve come since leaving education.
Q:If I could meet my future self, I’d expect them to be …
Happy, proactive and still looking forward to challenging situations.
Q:What is the best part of your job?
Working with an amazing, dedicated and passionate team.
Q:What is the worst part of your job?
Trying to fit everything in! It’s a really demanding role and I’d love to get more done during office hours.
Q:What makes you smile?
Seeing patients return to our centre time and time again.