eNews October: Spotlight on... Darren Kilroy

Describe your role in one sentence

I keep patients moving through the system within four hours to meet the 95% target and ensuring that the 280 patients who pass through it daily, do so safely.

What are your main challenges and how do you overcome them...
My primary challenge is keeping myself on the right side of the 95% target which depends on the dynamism and effectivness of the team. This means negotiation with lots of clinical groups all of whom are vital to the system. For me, the trick is engagement – it’s about having constant dialogue and conversations with teams. I like to be there in the thick of it so my team knows we are all in it together.  For example, I always choose to do the late shift on a Monday in A and E – our busiest time so I can offer my team support.

Dealing with conflict
Conflict is inevitable part of leading teams but conflict doesn’t necessarily lead to disharmony. What I try to do is translate conflict into one of appreciation of the problem at hand so that we are focused on solving the problem rather than getting frustrated at the perceived lack cooperation.