Joy for three Burton colleagues as they qualify as Assistant Theatre Practitioners
Three members of the theatres team at Queen’s Hospital Burton have worked their way up from the role of Healthcare Assistant (HCA) to Assistant Theatre Practitioners (ATP) after passing their foundation degree.
Dion Quinby, Emma Broadhurst and Lindsey Argent-Matthews all began studying at Staffordshire University in January 2019 and recently graduated - all while supporting the Trust and their colleagues during the pandemic.
Lindsey has worked in the team since 2007, when she joined as a Theatre Orderly before training as a Theatre Support Worker. She said that seeing her colleagues around her take on studying the foundation degree inspired her to follow their path:
“I really wanted to study like my friends around me, but as a mature student I thought ‘can I still do this?’ I didn’t meet the entry criteria initially so I had to take a functional skills course in maths and English which I did with the support of the Trust which was great.”
Emma has worked in theatres in Burton for almost 10 years and also felt that the course was testing, but is glad that she took it on:
“It was a good challenge and I was really nervous as I had never been to uni or anything like that before I did this course, so jumping straight in to something like this was scary.”
Dion was with the Trust for just over a year before taking maternity leave with her second child. When she returned, she knew she wanted to progress:
“I finished my Level 2 NVQ and then wanted to become qualified, and this was the something that allowed me to take that next step while being able to juggle work and family time.”
Despite their initial concerns, the trio performed exceptionally and the knowledge they have all picked up has been invaluable.
Lindsey said: “I never imagined that I’d be in the position I’m in now when I started this course two years ago and I’m really glad and proud of what I’ve achieved – it’s blown my socks off!
“I feel like I can really help to make a difference in the team with what I’ve learned and alleviate the pressure on my colleagues by taking on responsibilities that I wouldn’t have been able to do without this degree. This has really helped me feel like I’m an important part of the team.”
Dion added: “I have really enjoyed expanding my scope of practice, scrubbing for more things and being able to help my colleagues more.”
Balancing studying alongside her role in theatres during the pandemic was a challenge.
Dion continued: “I’m a single mum of two young children, so it was a struggle. There were not only challenges because of working through the pandemic, but there was the additional challenge of home schooling and my uni work. But like everyone, we got through it.”
Emma shares Dion’s sentiment and says that the experience was still one she cherishes:
Emma said: “It was really enjoyable and I am quite proud of what I have achieved, especially during the pandemic. It was tough to balance everything as things were changing so quickly in the hospital. But we all helped each other and got together when and how we could to share our learning.
Lindsey added: “It has been really hard work doing this while Covid-19 has been present, but everyone at the Trust has been so helpful and I’ve had some fantastic mentors along the way.
“Even though the pandemic put pressure on us as a team, I was still able to continue with my learning and get experience in different specialities, which was really useful.”
Now, before Emma and Lindsey embark on the next stage of their development when they begin training as Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) in January 2022, they are all looking forward to their graduation ceremonies and are even hoping that these might be able to take place in person.
Dion also has plans to follow in her colleague’s footsteps, but is waiting until her children are a little older first.
Dion said: “I’d love to take my training as an ODP but I’d be sacrificing time with my kids to do so, so I’m going to delay it a little.”
Emma said: “We’re due to attend a virtual graduation ceremony in summer, but we are holding out hope that we can have a ‘proper’ one in the autumn which would be really nice, as days like that are what you look forward to and work for during the course.”
Picture caption (left to right): Emma Broadhurt, Lindsey Argent-Matthews, Dion Quinby