Hello everyone, my name is Tom Cudbertson. I am brand new to libraries, although not to the NHS, having previously worked as an MDT Assistant in oncology, as a Medical Secretary and in Medical Records at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. When the opportunity to work in the Trust library appeared I reflected on myself and my skills, deciding to apply and fortunately being successful. I am enjoying learning about how health libraries work and the many different roles there are within them. I am currently building my customer service skills to make sure library users have a positive experience.

I have previously gained an MSc Information Science (Data Analytics), studying online whilst working in oncology. I am now learning that although I covered literature searching in my studies there is much I do not know and I am keen to improve on this. In my dissertation I learned about an unfamiliar topic by reading papers including literature reviews, so I am aware of how useful they are in helping people break down and understand the field they work in.

I worked in retail for several years following the conclusion of my undergraduate degree, a BA (Hons) Business Studies from Leeds Metropolitan University as it was named at the time. Although I liked working in retail I wanted to pursue a full-time role and I particularly wanted to work in the NHS. I am proud to be able to support the people who look after vulnerable patients with great skill and to work alongside such professional, dedicated and hard-working colleagues.

My ambition is to gain my chartership. I will be referencing my skills and self-evaluating them against the PKSB, incorporating the STAR technique in my daily work tasks to see what I have learned and what I would do differently, helping to build a portfolio of evidence and develop me as an individual.

Outside of work I am a keen Hull City supporter and attend home games, am an avid reader in particular of non-fiction and I have recently restarted learning Spanish. I attended a night school which stopped due to COVID and am picking up the habit again with Duolingo. I am also a member of Cottingham Little Theatre, sitting on their marketing committee.

I look forward to working with you all and hopefully meeting some of you in person at a network event.

Thomas Cudbertson
Library Officer
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust