Why work for us?

NHS Property Services - Why work for us

60 seconds with Ivy Esther Opata

NHS - Sixty Seconds [square] What’s an average day in your life like?

I work in two NHSPS locations. In the mornings, I work in Barton House Health Centre in North London. In the evenings, I work in the London hub, Gresham Street.

My day starts at 5am where I clean the surgery at Barton House, ready for the GPs to start their work at 7am. As there are patients visiting the clinic, the facilities need to be spotless and run on time. I love putting smiles on the doctors’ faces when their clinics are ready for the day. As I work morning and nights, I like to go home to take a nap during the afternoon.

The night shift starts at 5pm for me, where I’ll come to the NHSPS’ London office where around 400 people are based. It’s a busy space and I always start with the reception area and boardroom to give them a bit more attention.

Describe your colleagues in three words?

Funny, kind and generous. My co-workers at NHSPS treat me like family and that’s why I love doing my job. The people at the London office are so nice, which makes my job easier.

If you had magic powers for one day, what would you choose to do with it?

I would make sure everyone loved one another. I believe in being kind to one another as you never know what someone is going through.

What keeps you busy outside work?

I enjoy cooking! I make a great salad with salmon and chillies. I can also make a great bowl of jollof rice.

What inspires you?

My children inspire me and I’m really proud of their achievements. I’m really thankful for the young adults they have become. My daughter is currently studying her A-Levels and my son is working on an apprenticeship scheme. Having come from Ghana, I appreciate the life that I have and the family who take care of me.