Terry Bates - IT Infrastructure Engineer

Role description

I am an IT Infrastructure Engineer, working in a small IT team for both St George's Inc. and St George's Cancer Care Centre. This role has me involved in administration, planning and implementation of the of the hospital's IT systems and software, meaning my work is always varied.

How long have you been with St George’s?

Just over two years and it’s been great. St George's staff are friendly and always make me feel like I am part of the team. They're always willing to help out when they can. It's also great having a social club that gets people from different areas of the hospital talking, creating a more friendly and cohesive social environment across the workplace.

What made you embark on this career?

I have always been fascinated by computers, from a young age. This interest naturally led me to training and a career in IT.

What personality traits are vital in your role?

Patience; knowing that IT doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Efficiency; making sure work is carried out correctly but in timely fashion. Thirst for improvement; constantly looking for ways to improve my own knowledge, as well as improving the resiliency of the IT infrastructure. 

What is it like working in a hospital environment?

Working in a hospital keeps me on my toes. I am constantly keeping an eye on our critical systems to make sure they're healthy. It can be stressful at times, but I enjoy the challenge, and it's nice to know I ultimately play a small role in helping patients.

How do the facilities and resources at St George’s complement your role?

Working at St George's gives me the opportunity to work with software and tools that are not available in other industries. Part of my job is to make sure we're always aiming to improve the resources and facilities that make the hospital IT systems tick. Being a five day venture is also beneficial, as there are often IT projects which can only be completed while no one else is accessing the systems. The hospital is also always willing to keep my skills up to date, and I am encouraged to keep an eye out for opportunities such as attending relevant conferences, and training courses.