Curriculum
Vitae
SANDRA HARRIS
October 2010
NAME
Sandra Harris
ADDRESS
6A Green Valley
Chlorakas
Paphos
Cyprus
CONTACTS
e-mail:
Home Tel:
Mobile:
sandraksa@yahoo.co.uk
+357 26934052
+357 97830947
DATE OF BIRTH
16 May 1947
NATIONALITY
British
CURRENT SPEEDS
100/70 wpm
EDUCATION and TRAINING
1959 - 1961
Chandos, Stanmore, Middlesex
1961 - 1963
Pitman's Secretarial College, Wembley, Middlesex
Awarded Pitman's Diploma:
Shorthand Theory, Shorthand/Typing, English, Maths,
French, Commercial Correspondence, Office Practice
London Chamber of Commerce:
English
22-26/6/92
Cranbrook College, Harrow, Middlesex
WordPerfect 5.1
1992/3
1-30/10/92
11/92
3/93
11-12/98
Manpower PLC, Harrow, Middlesex:
Medical Terminology
WordPerfect 5.1 (Basic Skillware)
WordPerfect 5.1 (Advanced)
DisplayWrite 3
Word for Windows
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
Medical Terminology
Other Packages:
Amstrad PC/WP Smart System
MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION / SECRETARIAL EXPERIENCE
As a medical transcriptionist I have worked for general practitioners, Harrow Community Health
Care Service and several major hospitals - Mount Vernon, Northwick Park, Central Middlesex,
Edgware General, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh and North West
Armed Forces Hospital.
9/99 – 9/2010
NORTH WEST ARMED FORCES HOSPITAL, TABUK, KSA
TRANSCRIPTIONIST / MEDICAL SECRETARY
During the first year worked largely as vacation / illness relief. This included provision of cover
as secretary to the Medical Director and as transcriptionist / medical secretary in General
Surgery, Cardiac Services, Renal Unit, Internal Medicine, ObGyn, Paediatrics. As secretary to
the Medical Director and his Deputy responsibilities included dealing with medical / clinical
operations and personnel administration of 17 departments involving close liaison with all hospital
services and employees. As transcriptionist / medical secretary duties included transcribing / typing
of discharge summaries, op notes, cardiac catheterisation / angiography / angioplasty reports.
Secretarial duties included all normal routine responsibilities as well as minuting department,
committee, M+M meetings and preparation of presentations. Also provided initial preparation /
typing of the hospital formulary ensuring correct spelling, generic / proprietary designations and
including all incidental appendices.
For about five years in the Radiology & Imaging Department transcribing radiology and
imaging reports, for about two years solely as secretary to the Chief of Radiology providing all
secretarial support for 60+ people, including the ten radiologists. Duties comprising creation /
formation of correspondence, rosters and other documents including departmental policies,
guidelines, reports and statistics, minuting meetings and personnel administration for all
employees in the department.
For about five years as transcriptionist and secretary to head of the Medical Laboratory
Department providing all transcription services working for up three pathologists and one
haematologist, transcribing from dictation, cassette and handwritten reports (histology,
cytology, bone marrow), about 4500 per year, including all necessary record keeping, filing.
Also liaising with MIS formulating the Hospital Information Management System for
Histology/Cytology sections of the Lab. During this time providing all transcription for the Lab
as well as secretarial duties (for about two years) as outlined for the Radiology Department.
6/97 – 8/99
KING FAISAL SPECIALIST HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CENTRE, RIYADH, KSA
HOSPITAL ASSISTANT
Initial nine months spent as secretary to the Head of Medical Oncology and the remainder of
the time as secretary in Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Provision of secretarial support for Section
Head, consultants and assistant physicians as well as residents. Responsibilities included
typing of all section correspondence, education activity scheduling / preparation,
presentations, department and section meeting minuting, slide preparation, leave
administration, preparation of timesheets, on-call / clinic schedules and calendars, mail
distribution. The Section Head in Obstetrics & Gynaecology is also the residency training
program director and as secretary duties also covered all aspects of training / personnel
administration, monitoring and evaluation of 15 Saudi residents as well as continuously
rotating residents. As secretary in Ob Gyn additional responsibilities included all departmental
educational activity planning.
10/96 – 4/97 & 5/94 – 4/95
MEDICOM , 178 FIELD END ROAD, EASTCOTE, MIDDLESEX HA5 1RF
TEMPORARY TRANSCRIPTIONIST / MEDICAL SECRETARY
Assigned to Northwick Park Hospital as secretary in Orthopaedics, ENT, Geriatric Medicine
and Paediatrics. Responsibilities included outpatient clinics, operating notes, ward rounds,
telephone queries from patient and relatives, wards and other departments, hospitals and
affiliated agencies.
Orthopaedic Surgery
Originally assigned to clear a large backlog of outpatient clinic correspondence. After one
month, and for the following five months, assigned to a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and
his firm transcribing fracture, follow up, specialist hand and new patient clinic correspondence,
weekly ward round and three operating lists. Daily liaison with three orthopaedic wards, Day
Care Unit and Admissions as well as other departments, hospitals, patients, relatives and
GPs. Daily use of Patient Administration System database. For the next six months assigned
as secretary to a fellow surgeon, workload as above but the consultant specialising in knee /
back / sports injuries and medical adviser to the British Medical Olympic Committee.
Paediatrics
Assigned to this department covering annual leave to provide secretarial support for three
consultants. Transcription of outpatient clinics and minutes as well as management of Social
Services / Paediatric Department meetings.
ENT Department
Assigned to ENT to cover annual leave working for four consultants handling outpatient clinics,
discharge summaries and admissions.
Geriatric Medicine
Assigned to clear a backlog of discharge summary transcriptions.
Genetic Service
Working for the consultants in clinical genetics for the north west Thames region providing
secretarial support dealing with outpatient and outreach clinics, enquiries from patients, GPs,
hospitals, three laboratories and making new / follow up appointments.
For the second period, assigned to Northwick Park Hospital as secretary in the Kennedy
Galton Centre, the North West Thames Regional Genetic Service working for a locum
consultant in clinical genetics specialising in cancer referrals but also providing support for
other geneticists.
Responsibilities included transcription of all outpatient clinic
correspondence, answering telephone queries from patients, GPs, other departments and
hospitals. Close liaison with laboratories involved.
5/95 – 10/96
STAFFING ENTERPRISE, P.O. BOX 208, UXBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX UB10 9BP
TEMPORARY TRANSCRIPTIONIST / MEDICAL SECRETARY
Central Middlesex Hospital:
ENT Department
Assigned to the ENT Department working for two consultants and two SHOs. Three
outpatient clinics (new, review, paediatric), two operating lists, one day case, management of
two assessment clinics and subsequent paediatric inpatient episodes, discharge summaries
and a great deal of patient / GP liaison. Duties much as at Northwick Park but with added
waiting list and admission responsibilities. Daily use of Gerber-Alley database system.
Ophthalmology
Assigned to cover annual leave handling daily outpatient clinic correspondence for four
consultants, four clinical assistants and four SHOs. Close liaison with the Diabetic Clinic, Care
of the Elderly, patients and General Practitioners.
Orthopaedic Department
Assigned to Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Registrar and SHO dealing with inpatient and
day care operating lists, discharge summaries and assessment clinics as well as fracture,
trauma and hand outpatient clinics. Waiting list management and admission responsibilities.
Liaison with two inpatient wards, Day Care Unit, other hospital departments, patients, GPs.
Edgware General Hospital:
Critical Care / Anaesthetics
The Anaesthetics Department comprises a specialty director, eight consultants, clinical assistants,
associate specialist, senior registrars, registrars and junior doctors of Edgware Theatres.
Assigned as Secretary to the Specialty Director, Critical Care / Surgical Directorate who was also
the Regional Adviser for the Royal College of Anaesthetists, and to the Acute / Chronic Pain
Control Service responsible for all in hospital / external referrals.
Also provided secretarial support for all anaesthetists, ITU and the Pain Control Team. There
were three weekly Pain Clinic sessions and duties included daily contact with patients, relatives
and GPs, dealing with appointments / queries and liaison with the Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Secretarial support also provided when required to the Service Manager, Palliative Care / Pain
Control Services.
Responsibilities included all routine secretarial duties and enquiries for the Specialty Director,
all consultants, ITU, Outpatient Pain Clinics and Clinical Nurse Specialist, Day Care patients
and the College Tutor for Edgware Hospital. Also provided secretarial support for the Service
Manager, Palliative Care / Acute & Chronic Pain Control with a great deal of patient / relative,
GP, ward, Outpatient and other hospital department liaison.
4/93 – 6/93 Temporary, 6/93-2/94 Under Contract, 1/94-4/94 Bank Staff
MOUNT VERNON HOSPITAL, RICKMANSWORTH RD, NORTHWOOD, MIDDLESEX HA6 2RN
TRANSCRIPTIONIST / MEDICAL SECRETARY
Temporary / Bank Staff:
Paul Strickland Scanner Centre
Timely transcription of CT and MRI scan reports for the director and three radiologists. The
Scanner Centre handled MVH scanning requirements and those of numerous local hospitals
without scanner units.
Medical Physics / Radiotherapy
Assigned as secretary to the department head and associated specialists transcribing bone scan
reports, radiotherapy protocols and departmental procedures as well as preparation of abstracts.
RAFT (Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust)
Assigned as secretary to the Appeals Director handling trust funding with some medical /
technical research typing involved.
Plastic Surgery
Assigned to cover maternity leave working for a surgeon and his team handling new, review,
post-op and specialist hand clinics and a daily plastic dressing station. Duties included daily
use of the database system managing new and follow up appointments, transcriptions of clinic
letters / history sheets and discharge summaries. Close contact with patients, relatives, GPs,
wards, other departments and hospitals.
Under Contract:
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Worked for two consultants, one registrar and several SHOs. Duties included daily use of the
Patient Management System database managing follow up appointments, transcription of
outpatient clinic letters, daily contact with patients, relatives, GPs, wards, other departments
and affiliated hospitals.
10/92-6/93
MANPOWER PLC, 374 STATION ROAD, HARROW HA1 2DE
WP / SHORTHAND / AUDIO SECRETARY
Temporary secretary handling long and short term assignments, some of a highly confidential
nature - ie with National Westminster (corporate and branch banking), Manpower Harrow, Harrow
Community Health Care Service, General Practice, Mount Vernon Hospital.
Harrow Community Health Care Service
Assigned to the Podiatric Specialist transcribing a backlog of outpatient clinic letters.
General Practice
In the large and very busy general practice I worked as shorthand / audio secretary to four
general practitioners handling referrals to local specialists as well as general correspondence.
1/76 – 2/83
ARAMCO, ABQAIQ, SAUDI ARABIA
SHORTHAND SECRETARY TO MANAGER, WATER INJECTION DEPARTMENT
SECRETARY TO SUPERINTENDENT, SEAWATER TREATMENT PLANT, QURAYYAH
Provision of full secretarial services and management of all office routines at management
level including salary administration, performance appraisal and leave scheduling. Workload
included daily correspondence, minute taking, maintenance of timekeeping records and
personnel requirements for approximately 50 staff and 500 employees. Supervised one
Admin Aide and two Admin Clerks as well as several superintendents' Clerks. Provided
secretarial support for Planning & Programming Superintendent, later assigned to remote site
as secretary to Superintendent of the Qurayyah Seawater Treatment Plant
7/71 – 12/75
WESTERN STAFF LIMITED, KENTON ROAD, HARROW, MIDDLESEX
SHORTHAND / AUDIO SECRETARY
Provision of secretarial cover with some telex and switchboard relief. Long and short term
assignments with many companies - legal, commercial and industrial.
6/72 – 9/74 (TWO PERIODS OF EMPLOYMENT)
PROCON (GB) LIMITED, LONDON, NW1
SECRETARY TO PERSONNEL MANAGER / IRO
PREVIOUSLY SECRETARY TO CHIEF ENGINEER AND SUBCONTRACTS MANAGER
Daily confidential and sometimes delicate involvement with management, unions, staff and
employees. Provided full secretarial services including typing of correspondence, reports and
minute taking with some telex and switchboard relief. Secretarial support for the Personnel
Manager / IRO responsible for 250 staff and 300 employees, all site services (safety, medical
facility, transport, labour camp) and union negotiations at all levels. Provision of secretarial
services for the Chief engineer and his staff of 30 home office engineers / draughtsmen and site
personnel. Later secretary to Subcontracts Manager who handled all onsite subcontracts.
2/70 – 4/72
During this time I was employed as a temporary shorthand / audio secretary by various
agencies in London, Wembley, Harrow, Cheshire and Pembrokeshire.
2/65 – 1/70
FOSTER WHEELER LIMITED, CHAPEL STREET, LONDON NW1
SHORTHAND SECRETARY, PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Typing of general correspondence, telexes and requisitions, dealing with travel and
accommodation requirements, handling all incoming and outgoing mail and all normal office
routines. Although employed by FWL, I worked almost entirely for Esso Research &
Engineering personnel assigned to the UK on various projects. The project management
teams handling design engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning. Later
assigned to the site office in Holland for approximately 18 months on completion of the
Europoort Expansion Project.
6/64-2/65
F.W. WOOLWORTH & CO LTD, LONDON NW1
SHORTHAND / AUDIO SECRETARY TO HABERDASHERY BUYER & PERSONAL ASST
Typing of daily correspondence and status / budget reports as required.
4/63-6/64
WILLERBY TAILORING / TIMES FURNISHING, TOTTENHAM CT RD, LONDON NW1
SHORTHAND SECRETARY
Assigned to M.A. Jacobs, Willerby's own solicitors, dealing with County Court cases, daily
correspondence, telephone enquiries and all incoming / outgoing mail.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
I am adaptable to working requirements and conditions and enjoy a varied workload.
I am flexible and able to communicate and work with people of varying origins and personalities
having lived and worked with many different nationals.
As a temporary I have worked for Mount Vernon, Northwick Park, Central Middlesex and
Edgware General hospitals, Northwood Health Centre, Harrow Community Health Service,
Chester Royal Infirmary, British Drug Houses, NatWest, Chesebrough-Ponds, General Motors,
the BBC, the Patent Office, the National Coal Board, Financings, Rank Xerox, Olivetti, Rotaprint,
Columbia-Dixon, as well as assignments with solicitors, accountants, estate agents, insurance
brokers and many other small and large companies.