Sarah Cooke says goodbye to City

December 4, 2024

“I joined, what was then known as West Birmingham Health Authority, on 8 October 1989.” Sarah explains. “It was a position which had a 50/50 split between West Birmingham and Walsall Manor.  There were three of us in this brand new team called ‘IT’, and so my new journey began.”

Sarah had already started her NHS career in 1984 as a clerk, but she reflects on the excitement of joining SWB during a time of big changes.

“When I started my NHS career at a previous Trust, there were no computers. I expressed my interest in IT which led to the introduction of a data collection system. Whilst it was deadly boring, I jumped at the chance to use my IT knowledge from school! After that, I never really looked back.

“Around three years later, West Birmingham’s agreement with Walsall ceased and our IT team were taken on full time. Following this, our department grew. I set up the first service desk where I was offered numbers to choose as “the IT Helpdesk number”. I chose 4050, and it remains today.”

Later, Sarah recalls when Sandwell joined together with West Birmingham. “We formally merged with Sandwell Health Authority in February 2002. Prior to this, the IT and Information teams had already started working together from both organisations. I was really lucky to be given the lovely Medway PAS support team. Induction Training Manager, Andy Page, was a member of the team back then and I’m still in touch with other members too.”

With a main base at Brookfield House at City Hospital, we worked across sites. Sadly, we left City, eventually forming a base at the Hallam building in Sandwell followed by Trinity House.”

Sarah describes her favourite thing about working at the Trust. “I have loved working at the Trust – the family feel and community spirit is real. The friendliness of staff has been, and remains, lovely.

“I have been lucky enough to try most roles in IT and I have loved the variety. These have included the Servicedesk, Field Service, Training, Applications Support, Infrastructure and Relationship Management. In a previous role, I also tried coding.  I have worked with the most amazing people in IT, some of whom are still here. It is interesting when we get what I call ‘boomerangers’ – colleagues who leave to go elsewhere, thinking that the grass is greener, and then before you know it, they’re back.”

Sarah is no stranger to the many changes in IT over the years. “We had one computer in IT in the very early days that was connected to the internet. This computer was the only place in the Trust an email could be sent too. I remember my colleague, Scott Paterson, using a thing called the ‘world wide web’ to find a photo of the moon from NASA’s servers. It took ages to show up on the screen – but when it did, we were all amazed! Likewise, I remember first using Microsoft Windows. I still remember some of the old commands to run things on computers from a blank screen with a prompt shown as ‘C:>’. People thought Microsoft Windows would never catch on.”

With pride, Sarah shares her best memories of City and SWB. “Undoubtedly, it’s the people I have met along the way. I have had the privilege to work with many colleagues, some of which I had the opportunity to manage and nurture through their careers. I value the real friendships that I have made here. I’ll never forget the support I have received from those friends and the wider organisation during pivotal moments of my life, such as the loss of close family members.”

Sarah recalls another exciting memory in the years gone by. “It was New Year’s Eve, 1999, and we saw in the new millennium at City! As the clock struck midnight, we all climbed to the top of the fire escape stairs at Brookfield house. The fireworks went off for 10-15 minutes, and we stood in awe just watching – It was wonderful and none of our IT systems failed that night!”

Continuing, Sarah recalls large changes that have happened in the wider Trust over the years. “One of the momentous moments was the introduction of the PiMS patient administration system at City. Likewise, the Eye Hospital moving from the centre of town to join City’s campus as Birmingham and Midands Eye Centre (BMEC), and the Skin Hospital moving from Edgbaston to Sheldon block. I remember when Birmingham Treatment Centre (BTC) was opening too and so much more. Of course, not forgetting being part of the huge opening of Midland Met – what a tremendous way to end my career. Two days after its opening on 6 October, I celebrated 40 years working in the NHS.”

Sarah concludes: “Midland Met is a beautiful place and the views are incredible. It’s nice to be able to look out over the city and pick out landmarks. It feels like a calm and modern space to be in. I love it, and I have been very humbled to have played a part in the opening and SWB over the years.”