Learn what a career in IT within the NHS can offer
I am Tim, I work as the Head of IT Infrastructure within the Trust. I lead the teams who provide, maintain, and support the Trust’s IT & telephony systems.We are responsible for the networks covering all of our sites, our servers that provide applications and data storage, our telephony and mobile device systems and equipment, and the support of end-user PCs, laptops, and printers etc.
I started as a Desktop Technician for the NHS back in 1998. I came from an electronics background and my previous job had been repairing computer circuit boards, so at the time, this was a relatively natural progression.Over time, I moved into data networking, and managing teams of engineers, and am now responsible for the Trusts data and voice infrastructure across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
This role came about quite fortuitously, my wife and I were looking to relocate to Worcestershire, and she already worked for the NHS for a few years and secured a new role at Alexandra Hospital in Redditich and the technician role with the Community Trust became available at just the right time. So, while it was timing and opportunity, the positive experience that my wife had working for the NHS, was an influential element.
Moving in the NHS, the big difference for me was that in the commercial world, everything was driven by profit, often to the detriment of quality.In the NHS, the ‘profit’ is the satisfaction that something you did today, will have assisted in providing a high level of patient care.
The environment within the IT department busy, friendly, and welcoming. Smaller social groups have formed naturally, and we have a departmental night out with a meal and crazy golf in a couple of weeks. All of the team are supportive to each other, and are always willing to help or just to listen, be it for work related or personal issues.
Many of us in the department have worked in IT for the NHS for a long time and have enjoyed opportunities to learn a variety of technologies and systems, and to progress our careers.As we cover a wide variety of IT disciplines, there are ample opportunities learn new skills within the department.
The Trust is an amazing organisation to be a part of as we all have a shared purpose to improve patient outcomes. We all have friends and relatives who have needed the services of the NHS, and however detached from the front-line we are in IT, to be a small part of improving services is extremely satisfying.