Paula Oughton, Client Services Manager

Can you tell us a bit about your personal story and how you have got to where you are today?

My experience in the pharmacy industry started early.  At the age of 15 I worked in a local community pharmacy after school and at weekends.  This shaped my career path and led me to achieve my National Pharmaceutical Society Pharmacy Technicians accreditation.

I left community pharmacy to move to Northwick Park & St Mark’s Hospital in Harrow as a Rotational Technician and from there I joined CareFlow Medicines Management (known as JAC Computer Services at the time and later as WellSky International).  That was 22 years ago, and I joined the company as a Customer Services Analyst.  After a short maternity break, I returned as a Software Tester. During that period the testing team was only made up of two people and over time I gained multiple software testing qualifications and progressed to the Supervisor and Manager roles of the Quality Control team.  By the time I left I’m proud to say the team had quadrupled in size.

Since 2018, I have been in my current role as Client Services Manager overseeing all teams that deal with customer deployments.

What has been your proudest career moment to date?

This is a difficult one as we are achieving lots of things every day, such as new Integrated Safety and Quality Management System certifications, or helping a customer overcome an issue. All of these achievements are key. If I had to pick one, then I would say when we won the Client Partnership Award in 2019 that was run across all WellSky’s business units.

How do you want what you do to impact healthcare?  

I want it to have a positive impact on patient safety and ensure the solutions we develop help support health professionals to provide the best level of care they can.  It’s also important to me that our products help to ease the pressures NHS staff face and promote a better work life balance.

What one piece of advice would you share with your younger self on your first day in healthtech?

Healthcare and technology are complex subjects in their own right.  Combining the two can seem like a very daunting challenge.  When you feel like this, just remember that you’ve got this!

Who would you like to see celebrated on International Women’s Day?

Jacinda Ardern
For being the youngest Prime Minster of New Zealand with an impressive portfolio of achievements.

Queen Elizabeth II
A shining example of dedication, determination and dignity.

Model, activist and television presenter, Katie Piper
For being an exemplary role model despite significant trauma and adversity.

Weedie Sissons, business coach
I have had the pleasure of working with Weedie and for me she is a beacon of positivity and calmness. Overtime Weedie has helped me grow as a person and a manager.

Three words that sum up your perfect weekend.

With my boys.