In The Spotlight - Oliver Cahill
People are at the centre of everything we do. Those who work at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board make a difference to people’s lives every single day.
Each month, the ‘In The Spotlight’ campaign will shine a light on the different people who make up Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, from those who support behind the scenes, to those who have passions that led them to work in their role.
As an organisation with over 17,000 colleagues, the campaign will highlight the variety of roles, teams and individuals across the health board. Working in the NHS can be life-changing, both for colleagues and for the patients they help.
In the Spotlight this month is Oliver Cahill. Oliver is a Rehabilitation Engineer who focuses on designing and adapting mobility aids to improve patients' comfort, independence, and quality of life. He has been with the Artificial Limb & Appliance Service since graduating with a BSc in Rehabilitation Engineering from Swansea University in 2023.
Oliver’s role involves a lot of hands-on problem-solving and creativity. “I spend a large amount of time creating 3D drawings of my designs, making prototypes, and then trialling equipment with patients,” he explains. “The process of identifying issues, finding solutions, and then successfully implementing them; it’s a process that I thoroughly appreciate. There is no better feeling than the complete satisfaction and reward of positively impacting a patient’s lifestyle.”
Oliver’s fascination with product design and his desire to help others led him to this career path. “The opportunity to pursue this practice in a healthcare service where I would not only be able to improve my engineering knowledge and skills, but also be able to help people. It was an opportunity I did not want to miss.”
For Oliver, seeing the direct effects of his work reinforces his commitment. “The opportunity to work closely with a patient, getting to hear them, and hearing what they have to say makes it all the more special to tailor solutions to their specific needs. Especially when seeing how happy and grateful a patient can be after receiving my help - it is a powerful motivator that encourages me to thrive in my profession. Each time I see how my work impacts a patient's life, I am reminded of the importance of what I do.”
“I believe my role can make a positive impact on people’s lives, this would be due to the bespoke nature of having to go the extra mile to see what can be done to achieve greater posture support, mobility assistance, and independence - which can’t always be carried out with off-the-shelf equipment."
"My involvement in mounting life support to wheelchairs is a great example of how my role makes a difference in people’s lives. Life support such as O2 carriers, ventilators, and suction units can sometimes be essential for our service users to carry on them at all times.”
“A wheelchair with life support fitted means the user can maintain their mobility while still receiving the necessary medical care. It also improves a patient’s independence as they can move freely rather than being limited to a hospital bed. When a patient understands that their essential care equipment is by their side at all times, it leads to their comfort and social levels improving. This encourages their participation in social activities.”
Outside of work, Oliver loves being outdoors, whether it’s “long walks through all-terrain environments, exploring new areas of the country, going for runs, or spending some time fishing by the seaside or at a peaceful lake.”
Hear more about how we are putting people first in the Shaping Our Future Wellbeing strategy by visiting the webpage here: Home - Shaping our Future Wellbeing.
To view current vacancies with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board visit the Jobs page of our website here: Jobs - Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (nhs.wales)
Read about other roles and colleagues who have been 'In the Spotlight' here.