What I do

Hospitals have a lot of medical equipment that needs maintenance, servicing, repairs and testing. As well as maintenance, we also work in the Research & Development department and help with design, whether that is a new piece of equipment or a new procedure, then we implement it. We are patient-facing – we get called to things that have broken down on the ward and either fix it in situ or take it out and bring it back.

We also work with mechanical and medical gases. There are various medical gases depending on your hospital and department, such as oxygen, medical air, CO2, Entonox and heliox. There are some dangers involved in this because you are working with flammable and pressurised gases in cylinders and regulators. Part of being a competent engineer is knowing the risks and how to avoid them.

How I became a technician

I left school at 15 with Bs and above in all my subjects, except electronics. You have to cover electronics in engineering and what I struggled with at school, I can confidently do now. Learning in the working environment has made me more mature because I realise the importance of what I do.

When I left school, I had my heart set on being a Mechanic and I went to do an apprenticeship working on sports cars but I didn’t like it. I moved around and tried software development and sales but they weren't my calling.

I saw this apprenticeship advertised; I was 19 at the time. Five years down the line I have now done a Level 3 extended diploma, finished my Higher National Certification (HNC) and I’m about to finish my Level 4 NVQ which is close to degree level in terms of what jobs I can apply for.

A typical day in my
working life

I usually do the 7.30 am to 3.30 pm shift, unless I am asked to cover the later shift which finishes at 5 pm. All hospitals do things slightly differently, but in my team you get given a big picture goal e.g. here is a list of equipment that needs servicing in the next three months. It is up to you to manage your time and how you do it, as long as you meet the deadline.

I get my list of tasks and I can decide what I want to do that day. So, I might be out servicing, or we may have a list of repairs that need doing. We deal with things like regulators, operation tables and tourniquets used in surgery.

Learning in the working environment has made me more mature because I realise the importance of what I do.

My team is like a second home to me, and I get on really well with them.

A little more about
my everyday role

What I love most about my job

I love the Research & Development side. I’m also proud of my qualifications and where I have got to today from leaving school at 15. I’m good at my job and I can be relied on.

The best bits about working in a team

I’m in a team of four, made up of a team leader, two senior engineers and myself. When I started here all the guys around me – who have been in the industry for years – were much older but my team is like a second home to me, and I get on really well with them. We can have a laugh, but we get the job done at the end of the day.

Find out more about this role

Discover what qualifications you’ll need, how much you can earn, and what the next steps are.

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