MEET TISSUE VIABILITY EXPERT WITNESS, MEGAN HEALY
Megan is a Registered General Nurse with over 20 years of nursing experience, 17 of which have been as a Tissue Viability Clinical Nurse Specialist. She also has experience working within a Vascular Surgery and Medical Admissions Unit.
She has significant expertise in complex surgical wounds, negative pressure wound Therapy, assessment and management of leg and foot ulceration, leg oedema and the prevention and management of pressure ulcers.
Megan works for Jane James & Associates providing Tissue Viability Breach of Duty (Liability) and Causation reports, she also undertakes Tissue Viability Condition and Prognosis reports and is instructed on behalf of both Claimant and Defendant firms.
MEGAN’S ROUTE INTO NURSING
Megan was born and brought up in Sheffield where she also went to university to study for an Advanced Diploma in Adult Nursing Studies, qualifying in 2002. After qualifying, Megan worked as a Staff Nurse in an NHS Vascular Surgical Ward caring for patients following their vascular surgery. During this time, she also studied for her B-medSC in Nursing Studies.
In 2004 Megan moved to the medical admissions unit (MAU - the first port of call after A&E) at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield where she stayed for three years. She worked as a Staff Nurse and Tissue Viability Link Nurse which involved keeping up to date with current practices in tissue viability, local and national guidelines, and disseminating information back to the ward.
In 2007 Megan started a secondment as a Tissue Viability Nurse at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust covering all four of their hospitals. The role soon took her from secondment to a permanent, full-time hospital position as a Tissue Viability Clinical Nurse Specialist heavily involved in the prevention and management of pressure ulcers, complex surgical wounds and the application of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy along with the assessment and management of leg and foot ulceration, leg oedema and complex surgical wounds.
The role also involved teaching, developing policies and guidelines and project management.
BECOMING A MUM
Megan's twins were born in 2020, and after a period of maternity leave, she returned to her role as an NHS Tissue Viability Clinical Nurse Specialist in 2021, working with patients in both hospital and community settings, including those in care facilities.
As part of her role, she assesses and delivers care to numerous patients with diverse health conditions including complex wounds, chronic leg ulcers, lower leg oedema, negative pressure wounds, and pressure ulcers.
She also educates the workforce within her Trust, based on the latest guidelines, and research, evidence relating to Tissue Viability. She is involved in project management which most recently helped roll out a new pressure ulcer risk assessment.
WHY BECOME AN EXPERT WITNESS?
Megan was looking for an additional challenge to fit around the twins and complement her existing clinical role. When she saw JJ&A’s advertisement she didn’t hesitate to apply.
Megan has always enjoyed learning, loves anything educational and enjoys using her expertise and knowledge to investigate. Becoming an expert witness seemed a logical next step as Megan had some previous expert witness experience, completing nine reports in 2014. She thoroughly enjoyed the process finding that she possessed the right skill set for the job.
Since becoming an expert witness with Jane James and Associates, Megan says “What has struck me the most about working for JJ&A is the level of support I’ve already received from the whole team. Everyone is so lovely and can’t do enough to help.”
IN HER SPARE TIME
In her spare time (if it's possible to have any spare time as a working mother of twins), Megan enjoys swimming, step aerobics and body combat and once the twins are asleep, she likes to settle down with a Netflix true crime series or two. Megan also loves spending time outdoors with her family.
Megan works for Jane James & Associates providing Tissue Viability Breach of Duty and Causation reports, she also undertakes Tissue Viability Condition and Prognosis reports and is instructed on behalf of both Claimant and Defendant firms. You can find Megan’s full profile on our website.
Megan has completed the Assessment and Management of Leg Ulceration Course and has a Masters in Advancing Practice that focuses on Tissue Viability. She has taught at a local University and has been involved in local, and national quality improvement projects.
