Sarah-Jane Marsh

Employer: Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust

Qualifications: BA history, Lancaster University; MA Russian and eastern European Studies

I didn’t have my heart set on joining the public sector, but I read about the NHS management scheme and I thought it offered an exciting opportunity to gain managerial experience in lots of different areas. My first role was as an assistant general manager for trauma and orthopaedics. It was a middle-management post and I was responsible for overseeing the department’s waiting lists, and managing the medical secretaries, which I saw as the biggest challenge because they were all quite experienced. I also helped to co-ordinate the move to a new building.

Gaining an overview

When I finished the training scheme, I took up a post at the Department of Health running the private office of a senior person in the NHS and dealing with ministers. It was a big challenge but I felt that this rounded off my experience and gave me a good overview of the health service.

I am now director of planning and productivity, which means that I am responsible for all planning at the trust, and work on performance management and service improvement measures. It is my job to meet with managers, doctors and nurses to discuss strategies for improving quality, reducing costs and freeing up more time to spend with patients. I love that I’m not stuck in a back office; I’m out talking to people who are incredibly dedicated and often have the solutions to the problems we face.

I act as a facilitator, making coherent plans and ensuring that these are resourced properly so that their ideas can be implemented. I also liaise with the Strategic Health Authority regarding performance issues so that front-line staff can be freed up to continue providing services to the public. In December I will become chief operating officer of Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Learning curve

The most important thing that I have learned during my career is to deliver results. People don’t judge you by what you say, they judge you on what you have done and the difference you have made. My advice is always to look ahead and try to do something you really want to do. If you don’t do something that is exciting and worthwhile you’ll quickly become disillusioned.