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AN INTERVIEW WITH PHILIP OEHLEY
Philip Oehley has recently been appointed as the new Hospital Director
at Wirral’s Spire Murrayfield Hospital. Here he talks to Wirral Life in an exclusive interview.
Tell us about yourself and background.
I am originally South African - Durban born and bred. I qualified
in Hotel Management from the University of Johannesburg in
1991 after completing my National Service in the army. After
10 years in the 5 star hotel world, in 2001, I jumped at an
opportunity to join Netcare South Africa, one of SA’s largest
healthcare companies, when they were recruiting hoteliers into
their system. I remained with them in South Africa until I was
offered the opportunity of a transfer to the UK when Netcare
bought BMI healthcare.
We initially landed in Basingstoke to set up life with my wife Lee
and our 4 boys who were at the time ranging from 12 months to
12 years old . I spent an initial 18 months at the Hampshire Clinic
until early 2009 when I was then transferred (and the family)
to the BMI Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle Manchester where I
stayed until late 2015. The Alex is the largest private hospital in
the UK outside of London and I loved it. After pursing an offer to
join One Healthcare, London in the latter part of 2015, I returned
to Manchester a year later having enjoyed the job but not the
London rat race that is.
I was keen to get my boots back onto the hospital game and
assisted a friend of mine in his business for a few months until
a suitable role came up within Spire Healthcare – and hence the
Wirral.
60 wirrallife.com
What inspired you to work in the medical industry?
Having been trained in the hospitality industry service is part
of my DNA. I guess it begins with a natural desire of wanting to
serve, to serve first. I am certain that most staff in the healthcare
and hospitality setting would agree to my theory that to be
successful and effective in our roles within any service industry,
we must work towards better serving others. In the medical
industry, this is even more profound given the vulnerability of
our patients and the ability to change lives positively.
You have recently been appointed as Hospital Director at Spire
Murrayfield, how have you settled in?
I am loving it! The culture of the folk in the North West of
England is so much more gregarious and welcoming compared
than the south and the Wirral is especially special – the people
are warm – much more akin to my South African roots. The
Consultant body and staff teams have been very receptive and
welcoming and I really appreciate that – it makes the day job so
much simpler.
What challenges does a Hospital Director face?
Our jobs are incredibly varied and pressurised – the regulatory
world and those related pressures keep us on our toes and not
one day is the same – from Facilities Management right through
to patient contact and everything in between–.In short, however,
our roles are co-ordinators of people. People are what make our