Myles Daley

Name and Job Title:
Myles Daley
Nurse Endoscopist Practitioner/Bowel Cancer Screening Colonoscopist

Describe your current job role
My role mainly involves diagnosis, treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal conditions/cancer through endoscopy. Currently I work across three sites for the trust.  I carry out endoscopy independently and train both doctors and nurses how to do the procedures. Educate patients on the conditions they have been diagnosed with and ways to treat these either by diet, medication, further endoscopic procedures or possible surgery. Triage referrals from from GPs and allocation of appropriate testing or clinic appointments, refer patients to multidisciplinary teams for further managements. Currently I am the nurse lead for the iron deficiency anaemia clinic within the trust. 

Myself and the team of nurse endoscopists see patients referred from GPs under the two week rule, investigate the anaemia and advice on treatment or referral to other clinicians for specialist’s treatments.  Review all histology taken during the procedure I preform and action accordingly. I currently work for the bowel cancer screening programme in both Lancashire and mid Cheshire performing screening colonoscopies. Liaise with endoscopy booking departments about scheduling of patients or procedure lists. Break bad news to patients with relatives/friends. 
 
How did you start your career in health?
I started my career by qualifying as a nurse in Ireland back in 2006 with a degree in nursing. During my studies I had worked as a care assistant. I worked on a medical surgical ward for a brief period then moved to endoscopy and day surgery in St Michaels Hospital. I spent over 5 years there and gained a massive amount of experience and managed my first urea breath testing clinic. During that time I completed an extra higher diploma which I part funded myself. I then became a junior manager of a day surgery, endoscopy and infusion unit in a busy private hospital in Dublin. Here we saw over 100 patients a day. I gained a lot of experience in management, problem solving and organisational skills. During my time there I began to self-fund a university course which was a high diploma in gastroenterology care in the university of hull. I applied for a trainee nurse endoscopist within the East Lancashire Trust, I was a fully qualified endoscopist within a year and I have been working within the organisation for over 6 years.  I have within this time also undertaken a masters in colonoscopy and just finished a prescribing course.

How did you reach your current position?
It has been a lot of hard work, determination and dedication. I have always had a keen interest in endoscopy since I began my nursing career. I enjoyed its fast pace, variety of procedures and the use of medical engineering to treat patients conditions. I used every opportunity over the years to learn of expand my knowledge in the area either by direct experience or through higher education.  I went from being the endoscopy nurse at the start to working my way over the years to carrying out the endoscopic procedures which was traditionally in the past been only carried out by doctors. 
 
Who or what has been your inspiration?
I have always wanted to help other people. I myself spent a lot of years in and out of hospital from being a teenager due to inflammatory bowel disease. If it wasn’t for the caring, compassionate and kind nurses, doctors, family members, friends and past colleagues I would not be where I am today or possibly be alive. My mother, aunt and sisters are all nurses. I wanted to be able to give back to people what they did for me so I could make a difference in someone else lives. My late father who was the most kind, caring, loving and funny. He struggled with inflammatory bowel disease himself from an early age.

What advice would you give others on reaching their potential or embarking on a career in health?  
Work hard, set goals, strive to be your best, push yourself and try new things. Experience things you have not seen before or have been afraid of in the past. Continue with professional development even when you are qualified you never stop learning. Treat people the way you would want to be treated yourself. Take opportunities when they arise.  Don’t be afraid of change! 
 
What does 2020 #YearoftheNurseandMidwife mean to you?
A time to show how amazing, professional hard and working nurses we have. Nursing is a vocation and so much is done on good will. It it’s great that the public can see everyone’s personal story and the people who care for them at their most vulnerable or difficult times in their life.
 
Favourite quotes of all time 
Life Isn’t About Finding Yourself. Life Is About Creating Yourself.  George Bernard Shaw