Medical Records Officer

• July 1960 interviewed and appointed as the hospital’s first Medical Records Officer by Professor William Gissane and the hospital administrator.  Gissane wanted the medical records modernised 
• Commenced work 3 September 1960 
• Roger supported the documentation for prompt patient registration with the opening of the Major Injuries Unit in October 1960
• Roger was the founding editor of the Acci Magazine which started in 1967.  Initially designed to be monthly it became quarterly because of the difficulty getting copy.  The magazine was independent of management
• Christmas shows – Roger persuaded people to participate and organised both the venue and tickets.  He worked hard to recruit consultant involvement to poke fun at them
• The pub bombings – he saw on the TV went immediately to the hospital and spent the night there.  Black cabs brought in the walking wounded.  Over 100 patients in the first hour and 217 patients in total.  The telephone system collapsed as did the police radar system, casualty lists were provided by Medical Records staff and transported to Steelhouse Lane Police Station by Constables on the beat 
• In 1973 was involved in the early planning meetings for a new Accident Hospital on the Queen Elizabeth site 
• In early 1975 the Birmingham Mail held a major fundraising event with an exhibition in the Palisades Centre this included hospital beds and equipment.  Money raised was used to upgrade the Children’s Ward.  The Palisade market manager then joint the Accident Hospital League of Friends
• Between 1980-85 Roger was the secretary of the South Birmingham Joint Consultative Committee (Staffside)
• Roger was involved indirectly with the Road Traffic Research Unit which was set up by Professor Gissane.  Roger was responsible that the notes were retained and accessible.  Junior staff were encouraged to undertake research for which Roger made notes available.  Roger’s department included approximately 12 staff and they were the second in the country after Dudley Road Hospital to provide 24 hour cover
• In conjunction with representatives from Cadbury’s and the Austin Motor Company and clinical staff at the Acci, Roger’s department helped to devise documentation to facilitate referrals to the Acci from doctors surgeries/first aid posts within large companies.  The first page contained demographic details, the second details of treatment at the place of work.  This documentation also facilitated feedback to the factories many of which continued care for example in the form of dressings 
• Roger felt that his department always delivered patient centred car and that the hallmark of the hospital was that senior staff were always readily available
• Roger moved to the General Hospital in 1992 to help pave the way of the Accident Hospital to the General Hospital in 1993