HCA role helps Adam chase his dreams of a medical career

A healthcare assistant who joined the team with no care experience has won a place to train to be a doctor less than two years later.

Adam Croft, 23, works on the same-day emergency care (SDEC) unit at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, but will leave to study medicine at St George’s University in London in September.

He initially only applied for the role after his mum, who is a nurse at the hospital, suggested it but said the experience had helped him decide on a future career.

Adam, who lives in Minster, said: “Working here, as part of such a fantastic team, definitely pushed me towards medicine.

“Healthcare assistants are at the heart of what happens in a hospital and I have had the privilege of being involved with a huge range of patients, which has helped me develop my communication skills as well as how I care for them.

“It can be emotionally challenging at times, but my manager Sarah is a great support, as is everyone I work with across the hospital.”

Healthcare is a family affair for Adam, as his father is also a nurse, working on the renal unit at QEQM, while his brother is a healthcare assistant in outpatients, but will study diagnostic radiography from September.

Adam, who previously achieved a degree in biomedical science, said: “Working as a healthcare assistant has been an honour, because it allows me to provide real personalised care and comfort.

“It’s a role that’s often overlooked, and while for me it has inspired me to go on to further study, it is also a valuable role in itself.

“Healthcare assistants are some of the brightest, kindest, smartest people I have ever met and we don’t recognise them enough or how important they are to our patients.

“I will miss working with the team – it is a fantastic place to work and it definitely persuaded me to pursue a career in medicine.”

SDEC manager Sarah Hyman said: “You can’t imagine my joy that Adam has turned out to be the person he is.

“I took a chance when I recruited him but the feedback from patients is excellent, and he is so lovely with everyone.

“He is such a gentleman, he is like a breath of fresh air.

“Adam is an excellent example of what a role as a healthcare assistant can lead to – there are so many options in theatre, pathology, phlebotomy, or training to become a nurse or a doctor like Adam, and I look forward to seeing him achieve his dreams.”