We’ve strayed way off topic here Guys, but you’re right Drew. You have to make yourself useful if you’re worried about survival. The NHS is stuffed full of managers these days. But not enough “hands-on fixit techs”, surely.
Not too sure about things being too centralised, though, Alex. That’s how it was in the Armed Forces (back in my day, anyway). We only got a quality result there because the kit was standardised, all the techs came through the same training regime (so you knew what you were getting), and the guys all had “military qualities” (young, eager-beaver types willing to follow the rules in order to “get on”, and able to do as they were told) (…do you meet many like this in the “real world NHS”?). A far smaller organisation than the NHS too, of course. And isn’t centralisation also what AfC (much vilified on this site) is all about?
No, if you look at things objectively, surely the autonomy granted to biomed departments in the NHS is about right. I believe that it is the manager’s job to manage, and those managers who may have “lost the plot” should, perhaps, consider stepping aside and letting someone else have a go (or better yet, stepping “down” to remind themselves of the simple satisfaction to be found working with the tools).
In case anyone missed my earlier utterances, I firmly believe that the way forward is a return to “technician values” (primarily focussed on fixing the kit), risk-centred maintenance and the Zero-Budget Department!
