Mark - Enhancing Recovery
Mark Barber
Surgical Care Practitioner at Ramsay Health Care UK
BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice
Mark didn’t envision university or a career in healthcare as part of his future. After his music career didn’t work out, he embarked on a life-altering journey to become an Operating Department Practitioner at the age of 30.
I started my degree at 30 years old. Before that, university never crossed my mind. I was in a band and really focused on making it in the music industry. When that didn’t work out, I began to think about my other interests and what could become a long-term career.
I had a friend who worked in healthcare, and I became very interested in the different roles available. I was able to observe open heart surgery in the hospital he worked at, and I was fascinated. I knew from then that I wanted to work on a surgical ward. I embarked on an Access course at college and then applied to Operating Department Practice at BCU.
As a mature student, there were a lot of obstacles, the biggest one being finances. I worked part-time throughout my studies. Balancing the heavy workload, my personal life, placement and work was a challenge but I’m glad I persevered to get where I am today. The support I received throughout the course was outstanding. The staff at BCU always understood my circumstances.
The course was very placement heavy, which was great to learn on the job and get stuck in straight away. As someone who had been out of education for a long time, I had a lot to learn. I used to live a very different lifestyle: playing music, partying, travelling across the country in a van! I’ve felt at times that I’ve had to prove I’m capable of working a serious job in healthcare which has required changing how I conduct myself. Being able to spend so much time on placement during the course allowed me to experience a professional setting and working with others.
I qualified as an Operating Department Practitioner in 2020 and started working as a member of the Orthopaedic scrub team at Ramsay West Midlands Hospital. Having spent a lot of time in Orthopaedics during my placements, I knew this was the area in which I wanted to work. My passion and knowledge quickly showed as I became an integral part of the team and enhanced my scrub and surgical first assistant skills. When the Orthopaedic Team Leader job became available in 2022, I applied and was successful. I led the team for 18 months and during this time completed my Enhanced Surgical First Assistant training making me one of the most qualified surgical practitioners in the department.
Alongside my full-time employment, I completed my Master’s by Research with BCU to further progress in my career. Following this, I was appointed a Trainee Surgical Care Practitioner. Now working as part of the surgical team, rather than the theatre team, I’ve been able to further my surgical training and knowledge. I take medical histories, perform clinical assessments, request diagnostics, consent patients for surgery and perform minor procedures such as injections. Once qualified I will be able to perform minor surgeries and have my own clinics.
I feel very privileged to have come so far and work alongside some incredible surgeons. When I was travelling the country as part of my band, I never would have imagined that I could be a part of carrying out life-changing surgeries and saving people’s lives.
