Jo has two roles at our friendly Thame practice. The first is a clinical role where she runs a Wax Removal Clinic using micro-suction, irrigation or specialist instruments as required. When wax is blocking our ears it causes a temporary hearing impairment and can be very inconvenient and sometimes painful. One of the aspects Jo finds most rewarding is watching someone leave, smiling and able to hear again after wax removal or after a new hearing aid has been fitted.
Jo is also the Thame Front of House Manager. Here she supports the reception team in welcoming clients to the practice, making appointments, doing simple hearing aid repairs and always ensuring a plentiful supply of tea and coffee for all.
With both these clinical and administrative roles Jo is always busy, offering support to anyone with a hearing difficulty and advice if someone is considering a hearing aid for themselves or a family member.
Before joining Aston hearing in 2017, she trained as an SRN at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and after qualifying, her first post was on the female medical ward, then moving to the Burns and Plastic Surgery unit until she left to raise her own family. Jo then worked part-time at the Thame Cottage Hospital.
Later, when her children were older, Jo became a staff nurse on the district team before moving to Haddenham Medical Centre as their Practice Nurse. It was here that Jo developed an interest in ears and hearing and took her diploma in Primary Ear Care at Rotherham. She was proud to be asked back to Rotherham as one of the regional trainers. This led to Jo setting up her own training company, teaching ear irrigation and ear care to nurses and other healthcare professionals. She continues to travel around the UK as a trainer and loves seeing new areas of the UK and being able to pass on a new skill to other nurses.
Jo grew up in High Wycombe and moved to Thame when she was married and loves living in this friendly market town. Although she knows Thame very well she had no idea there were so many little courtyards and offices hidden away behind the shops. The Aston Hearing practice occupies one such building, tucked away at the back of Tim Russ. The lovely flowers outside the practice are all Jo’s work and she takes great pleasure in nurturing them along.
Jo’s daughter, Carolyn now works alongside her in the reception of our Thame practice and her son, Stuart followed in Jo’s footsteps and uses his Emergency Nursing skills in the RAF.
Outside of her work, Jo loves to tend her garden and allotment, she enjoys reading and wants to make time to use her new sewing machine. She has two grandchildren who live nearby and who regularly pop in to see her at work, even if only to raid the biscuit tin!
If not at home her favourite place would be in the Norwegian Fjords as she has so enjoyed several cruises there and marvels at the quietness and breathtaking scenery. Maybe a cruise to Canada or Alaska next?
