I live in a dotty world! It is just what the doctor ordered, and that is no accident as I work in a hospital.

I am clinical information systems manager. I report to the matron of the department. My directions are set in discussion with the Clinical Director and the Clinical Head and my task set is prioritised and projects co-designed with the Consultant who is the 'Clinical Information Lead'. I liaise with the organisations IT Manager regarding overall IT strategy and integration of my mandate with his, and also with that of our 'IT infrastructure provider' and the medical equipment support 'provider'.

It works well from the IT user perspective. They get represented by their 'own' IT professional in the grand scheme of things while also getting all the departmental solutions and tweaks that they want according to their own priorities. I am also on hand to keep the users adept at using the usual Windows packages, solve local equipment and network failures and generally hold their hands.

I can also listen to them and help them to develop their ideas when they ask the inevitable 'can we just make this little change...?' or 'I am doing this bit of research and need...'. I can identify 'large' projects and move them up the dotted line and I can pretty accurately interpret 'symptoms' and delegate the problem solution to the right people.

Stimulating for me, good for my clinical colleagues, good for keeping the infrastructure contractor 'honest' and good for productivity and efficiency of the organisation.

Yes, it can be stressful but that is the management side of the job... no problems, nothing to manage, no stress!