“We’re telling a really important story”
Aimee Mutambo is a Lead Pharmacist, Medicines Optimisation at South East London Integrated Care Board, working behind the scenes in the NHS, making sure ‘people get the best value out of their medicines,’ she says, adding, ‘A normal day for me is looking at medicines data, designing new services, and thinking up different ways to reduce medicines wastage.’ A hero in any decent person’s eyes, I say, but that is not all. With a track record of leading AMR efforts across her career, she’s helped shift prescribing culture from “prescribing less” to “prescribing better” – encouraging prescribers to choose targeted antibiotics from the very first dose. And then there is this: Aimee is also part of the chorus in Lifeline, a new time-shifting musical about Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming discovering penicillin. What! Someone waft the smelling salts under my nose – I suddenly feel faint! writes Michael Holland.
Aimee is based in Bexley but her work takes her all over SE London. She did her Masters at King’s College London (KCL) and post-graduate studies and Independent Prescribing training at KCL and Kent & Medway Universities. ‘The rest,’ she explains, ‘is learning on the job.’
I wondered what it was that made this Chorus Girl choose her career.
‘Pharmacy seemed like a great combination of science, medicine, problem‑solving and real patient impact – and I was right! I’ve worked directly with patients on a ward, all the way to solving medicines problems for the government, and so many things in between.’
She reveals that the ‘pressures can be exhausting’ but they are outweighed by the joys of ‘working with so many intelligent, dedicated people and knowing that your work actually makes a difference to people’s lives. It’s an amazing feeling to think of a project one day, and to see it in action on the high street the next.’
I was very much intrigued to find out more but this is a South London local newspaper, not The Lancet, and rehearsals were about to restart after a break. Plus, I needed to dig down into the creative and artistic side of Ms Mutambo.
Aimee has done a lot of community theatre and always sang; she started musical theatre in 2023 and even writes and releases her own music. ‘I’ve toured internationally,’ she casually drops in, ‘and ended up on the singing show I Can See Your Voice a couple of years back. That was another time when my career inspired my on-stage persona, and they dressed me in a white coat for the show!’
I am officially starstruck!
It was by being involved in the world of theatre that Aimee got the audition call. The Lifeline team wanted a chorus made up of healthcare professionals, and Aimee wanted to be in it: ‘It was such a strange feeling to see an audition notice while sitting at my desk, and I decided to go for it.’
Why?
Being a health care professional is really all about trying to find the best way to speak to the person in front of you so that you can care for them. If you can’t communicate, most things don’t work. Art reaches people right where they are, and sharing such an important message through the theatre was a beautiful opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.’
Is Alexander Fleming’s work relevant today?
‘Absolutely. Lifeline shares the reality that these life-saving antibiotics won’t be around forever if we aren’t careful. It’s one thing to see the data, but seeing the human side of the story on stage really makes you want to protect what we have. It also reminds us that keeping antibiotics working is everyone’s business, not just healthcare workers or NHS staff.’
Our Lead Pharmacist is definitely enjoying this experience. She was visibly excited when she told me how much: ‘The songs are great, the production team is lovely, and it’s such a joy to be sharing this experience with 59 other health care professionals and scientists, all doing amazing things in different fields… Rehearsals are full-on, sometimes all day, but really enjoyable. Every time we meet, it comes together a bit more, and it really is sounding great. I’m loving it!’
Last word? ‘Come and see the show! It’s a completely unique piece of theatre. We’re telling a really important story about how everyone can help to slow down antimicrobial resistance, and we’re doing it in a way that’s easy and fun to watch. You’ll love it!’
I’ve now booked my appointment with the Lifeline team.
Southwark Playhouse Elephant, 1 Dante Place, London, SE11 4RX from 28th March – 2nd May.
Booking and full details: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/lifeline/
