Dear Neil

I just wanted to write to let you know what a brilliant job Chris and his team did with us over the last week in sorting out our NHS.net migration.

I was extremely apprehensice about the whole thing as I had heard lots of tales of woe from other managers, but I have to say that although things didn’t go particularly smoothly in some areas Chris kept cool and calm, dealt with all of the problems that cropped up quickly and efficiently and despite off-site difficulties early on in the process which put them behind they worked like mad and finished within the time.  It was far less traumatic than I had been led to believe and they dealt with a manic manager (me!) and equally fraught GPs very professionally whilst still retaining their sense of humour.

I have always been a big fan of your service, having been with you since the days that you and Pete used to come out on site yourselves to fix problems, and I am glad that getting bigger hasn’t altered that.  Please pass on our thanks to Chris, Scott and the others who helped.  I have also let Damien at NHS Southampton know of our satisfaction.

With best wishes.

Yours sincerely,

Sue Wright

Practive Manager

Over the last year or so we have taken 3 or 4 people on for work experience from various colleges and training companies. All the students have been very successful and have enjoyed their time at Healthcare Computing; most of the students have worked on the service side dealing with Service Calls - from logging them to going out onsite with an engineer and resolving them.  We complete a detailed training plan for each student. 

“After doing a number of weeks part time work experience with Healthcare Computing I found it gave me a useful insight into being an IT engineer for a company working with PCTs and health services.  I spent most of my time with another engineer going to different sites to fix a variety of issues from new PC installs, to printing errors, and software faults.  This really helped me to prepare for the sorts of issues I may face and also how an engineer works on a daily basis.  It also taught me things that I could use at home too. 

I was also offered to spend some time in the office to learn about the service support side of the company.  The staff were very helpful and pleasant and made me feel welcome.  This helped to understand both sides of the job – what the office-based staff deal with and how it relates to an engineer’s role.

In conclusion, I learnt a lot from the experience and it was time well spent.”

George Wyatt – Network Engineer

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your team for the way that you managed my son Joel’s work placement with your company. He came home each day full of both what he had achieved and had been doing, in the morning was looking forward to the tasks he was going  to be doing that day.

Having had work placements myself, I understand how difficult and time consuming it can be to keep them interested and motivated, but in this instance your team achieved this and gave him a sense of responsibility as well.

I would also like to thank the engineers, who took him to site and set real tasks and made him feel part of the service visit.

It is very rare today to hear of a company that seems to have self motivated, friendly, and helpful staff, your team made his placement enjoyable, challenging also gave him the impression that the working environment be an enjoyable place to be.

It is so important that business realizes that the young people of today are the future to successfully business in the future, and it is a great shame that many company’s do not show the attitude that your business has.”

Statement from Tim Rumble, father to Joel who completed work experience with us in 2009

The Apprenticeship scheme is run by the government as an approach to get young people working, gaining qualifications, and earning money at the same time.

Healthcare Computing have been training apprentices for almost 3 years now.  We have previously had 2 people successfully complete apprenticeships in Business Administration and we currently have 2 members of our staff undertaking a Business Administration Apprenticeship and a Warehousing and Distribution Apprenticeship.

All of our apprentices undertake their training within the Healthcare Computing office with an assessor coming in every few weeks to monitor their progress.

“I started my apprenticeship in Business Administration in 2007 at level 2, and went on to complete a level 3 NVQ in Business Administration, and then completed an evening course in Human Resources with the CIPD. I found working and learning in the office a much better way than just going into college everyday as you get to see what it is like to put what you had learnt into practice. Also everyone here is very helpful and always offered advice when I had questions on how things should be done.”

Gemma Nicholass – Business Administrator

“I am currently studying for an NVQ level 2 in Warehousing and Distribution. The apprenticeship scheme is very good and has helped me with my job role here at Healthcare Computing. The company are very helpful and give me lots of guidance and time so that I can complete my work to the best of my ability. After completing this apprenticeship I will definitely look at carrying on my studies and gain more qualifications relevant to my job role.”

Dan Bailey – Warehouse Operative

“I first started off at Healthcare Computing in January 2009 – I was undertaking the Business Administration apprenticeship.  My assessor was very friendly and I found that it was a pleasure to work with everyone at Healthcare Computing – a great atmosphere and great people, always willing to help. It took me a year to complete my apprenticeship and I found that it wasn’t as much of a struggle as I first assumed and before I knew it I was breezing through.”

Dan How – Service Desk Technician

“I have found my apprenticeship a very positive experience. I have had a fun time learning many things and getting to know the people I work with. Whilst completing an apprenticeship you are able to obtain valuable qualifications and earn money in the process. The training you are given is all related to the work you’re doing during your apprenticeship.”

Robin Packer - Technical Sales Advisor

Simon and Richard have just fitted fourteen PCs and two laptops at this practice.

I feel compelled to write and express our gratitude for the professionalism and hard work they have displayed, which not only reduced disruption to a minimum but also led to a completely successful roll out of the equipment.

While your engineers are here they are accepted as part of our team and they are always willing to advise or help with minor problems, whilst achieving their own tasks. This added value is so important to us, given the speed of change and impact that technology has had on the NHS.

I know that my IT Manager has, in the past, thanked you for work carried out by you and your teams but it is important to us that you know in what esteem we hold the services you provide.

Morag Keen – Practice Manager

All of our engineers have recently been put through the ‘Education for Business Drivers Theory Course’ run by Dorset Police. The course has been specifically developed for people who drive for work and covers a range of useful topics, including vehicle dynamics and load, hazard perception, observation skills, health and safety legislation, and driver fatigue.

The course was tailored to suit our particular use of vehicles and was based on our comprehensive Company Driving Policy. The aim was to ensure that our engineers are aware of how to drive safely, for themselves and for other road users, and the responsibilities of driving a company vehicle. It also aimed to reduce fuel consumption and pollution by adopting good driving practices.

The course was run by Dorset Police and comments from our drivers were very positive. They feel that they have taken a lot on board and learnt a lot of useful tips to make them even safer drivers.

Some feedback from the course organisers:

“A young forward thinking company with a positive attitude, putting into practice a ‘duty of care to its employees’; One of the best ‘Driving for Work’ policies we’ve seen.

The training that we delivered was drawn from policy and your organisation was a pleasure to work with.”

Dorset Police

Your engineer was very helpful indeed.

Christine Kelly – Supervisor Newtown Surgery

I found a very polite and helpful solution to my problem from the engineer, I was presented with the problem on the day our IT lady was off sick.!!! so thanks again.

Jan Peake – lead dispenser

always helpful and efficient and accurate

Belinda – IT Supervisor

Very prompt – thank you

Eira Russell – Health Visitor Assistant

Healthcare Computing have a very high standard of work which is always met. I know I can rely on the engineers to do a good job and to fix the problems we report efficiently without fuss or bother.

Belinda – IT Supervisor