Kingston University London

Name: Jane Dodge
Current employer: Wandsworth Intermediate Care Services (ICS)

"ICS is a multidisciplinary team of nurses, therapists, support workers, dieticians, podiatrists and administrative staff. It is part of the older people and neuro rehab directorate within NHS Wandsworth Community Services. My interest in informatics developed as a result of data gathering for the statistical reports we regularly have to provide to obtain funding for our service, which comes from both the PCT commissioners and social services.

"An understanding of health informatics is essential, not just for system developers and programmers but also within the front line services. We need to be able to request developments that help our systems to be intelligent and useful, not just reporting for the sake of it, which can easily happen. That’s not a criticism of the IT specialists, more a recognition that we need to help them to help us.

"NHS PCTs and acute trusts will come under increasing pressure to become more accountable to both their patients and commissioners, both for the services they provide and their cost effectiveness. As such it will be essential for all staff to have a greater understanding of how to gather, collate and interpret information. I believe this course will provide me with the necessary skills to support my team as we strive to meet the demands and challenges of the future.

"As I work full time and have home and family commitments, I'm pleased that the course provides enough flexibility for me to study at times that suit. Initially I found e-learning a bit strange, but am getting used to it now and find that I am getting more comfortable with the different forms it takes, such as WIMBA, One Community and Moodle – terms that were completely foreign to me before I started my degree."

Name: Emma Wills
Current employer: Sussex Health Informatics Service

"I didn't go to university or complete my A-levels as I was not ready at the time, so this Foundation Degree course has given me a second chance to prove I'm able to learn and that there is no age limit on furthering. It’s ideal if you want to start to study later on in life, work full time and don't have the time or the money to take three or four years out to devote completely to a degree.

"Doing this course and getting it right gives me a great confidence boost; finding out I am able to learn and getting that personal reinforcement from my tutors and the other people on the course has been very rewarding.

"The course is giving me a greater appreciation of the wider aspects of my chosen career in heath informatics, and the ability to better understand not only what my customers want but also what they need to be able to do their jobs. I'm also showing my employer that I am enthusiastic and willing to learn – understanding the industry I work for in greater detail can only benefit both of us.

"I have met a great bunch of like-minded people and, even if I only actually get to see them seven or eight times a year, we are in contact constantly though emails and online classrooms. This way of studying fits in with my job and my lifestyle perfectly. Being given this opportunity now that I am ready for it, rather then at 18 when I had no clear direction in life, has opened many doors for me and given me an invaluable sense of personal achievement. I’d definitely recommend it to other people in my situation."