Surgical First Assistants

31/05/2026

Some nights in healthcare stay with you long after your shift has ended.

Tonight, I was part of a multi-organ donation procedure. It was not my first, but it was one of those moments that quietly reminds us why we do what we do.

In theatre, we are often focused on the technical aspects of our roles—the preparation, the precision, the teamwork. Yet sometimes we are reminded that behind every procedure is a human story, a family, and a life that has touched many others.

What struck me most tonight was the dignity shown throughout the process and the extraordinary generosity of a family who, in the midst of profound loss, chose to give hope to others.

For some members of the team, it was their first experience of organ donation. For all of us, it was a powerful reminder that even in death, one person's legacy can continue through the lives of many others.

As healthcare professionals, we witness both the fragility and the resilience of life. We see sadness, but we also see compassion, courage, and humanity at its very best.

Tonight, I leave work reflecting on gratitude—for the donor, for the family, and for the opportunity to be part of a process that transforms loss into hope.
Some stories end far too soon.
Yet through organ donation, part of a life continues in others.

29/04/2026

Reconstruction is not just technique… it’s precision, patience, and purpose.
In this case, it is used a graft construct with RT, TightRope, and SBE implant, supported with FiberTape suture for internal brace technique.
It’s a technique I genuinely enjoy—especially the process behind it:
carefully preparing the graft, measuring with intention, and ensuring every step aligns with the best possible outcome for the patient.
What makes it even more meaningful is the follow-up.
Some of these patients I continue to support beyond the theatre setting, seeing their recovery progress closely—even in their own environment.
That continuity… that trust… is what truly defines the work.

Reconstruction is not just technique… it’s precision, patience, and purpose. In this case, it is used a graft construct with RT, TightRope, and SBE implant, supported with FiberTape suture for internal brace technique. It’s a technique I genuinely enjoy—especially the process behind it: care...

01/04/2026

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg0pk41l75o?at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_format=link&at_link_origin=BBC_Cambridgeshire&at_link_type=web_link&at_medium=social&at_link_id=6406BE80-2D04-11F1-B774-9F0DC86369DF&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_campaign_type=owned&fbclid=Iwb21leAQ55hpjbGNrBDnlVGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHllgFmq0PJ8h_buP32Ps005RA1pFVqiR8sqOCvTmnprpLMP1YHr2zeG4WcZf_aem__TYcN6mlt0OG0qT2LGMhHg

Dr Jonathon Dean is struck off after injecting a woman during s*x with drugs stolen from a hospital.

27/03/2026

Today reminded me that leadership in healthcare is not only about skill, precision, and responsibility… but also about humanity.
I hardly imagined that one day I would experience a senior orthopaedic consultant — a highly respected name in the field — coming to work with homemade gingerbread biscuits and cupcakes, prepared by himself the evening before… for the team.
And not just any biscuits — but ones shaped like us!
In a high-pressure environment like theatre, it’s these small, thoughtful gestures that build connection, trust, and a true sense of team.
I’m grateful to work alongside people who lead not only with expertise, but with kindness.
(PS: I choose the cyclop)

23/02/2026

This set of 8 infographics to accompany the Surgical First Assistant: Essentials of Practice takes a glance at the role of the identifying key responsibilities during surgery in a number of areas such as preoperative preparation, assisting with haemostasis and wound care. Click on the link belo...

30/01/2026

Today — like yesterday, and like many days — I stood in theatre from morning until evening, assisting in orthopaedic surgery.
Scrubbed. Gowned. Focused. Present.
What is often unseen outside the operating theatre is the physical weight we carry — quite literally.
In spinal and orthopaedic procedures, wearing lead gowns for radiation protection is essential.
These gowns can weigh 6–9 kg or more, and when worn continuously for hours, the impact on the body is real:
Cervical and lumbar strain, shoulder and thoracic fatigue, compressive load on the spine, long-term musculoskeletal wear....
We hold retractors, maintain static postures, anticipate the next step, and support surgical precision — all while carrying that additional load, hour after hour.
Yet we do it silently.
Because patient safety comes first.
Because the operation must go on.
Because teamwork in theatre is NON-NEGOTIABLE !!!
Moments like these always remind me of something many of us in surgery don’t often speak about.
Last summer,( not job related), I experienced a period of significant back and spinal pain.
It limited my movement and some of the activities I love, and it gave me a deeper, very personal understanding of spinal strain — not just clinically, but physically.
So yesterday in theatre, standing for hours, assisting in orthopaedics and spinal surgery, wearing a lead gown for radiation protection, holding static positions and supporting precision throughout the procedure we were involved(was a laborious revision in spinal), that understanding felt very real.
The weight is real.
The impact on the body is real.
This post is not a complaint — it is recognition:
Recognition of the physical endurance required in surgery.
Recognition of the resilience of theatre teams.
Recognition of the importance of protecting not only patients, but also the professionals who care for them.
Respect to every scrub nurse, surgical first assistant, radiographer, and surgeon who carries this weight — seen and unseen — every day.
🩺💙

Today — like yesterday, and like many days — I stood in theatre from morning until evening, assisting in orthopaedic surgery. Scrubbed. Gowned. Focused. Present. What is often unseen outside the operating theatre is the physical weight we carry — quite literally. In spinal and orthopaedic proc...

01/01/2026

30/12/2025

Background: Severe (FIGO grade 3b & c) placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is potentially a life-threatening condition due to catastrophic haemorrhage at delivery. Consequently, interventional radiology (IR) techniques are often employed to prevent massive blood loss, but this is not always readily avai...

27/12/2025

This year has been a challenging one — not because of lack of skills or commitment, but because settling into a work environment can be particularly complex when your experience sits slightly ahead of existing systems and within a niche specialisation.
Working across different countries and healthcare models has shaped me into a practitioner who thinks critically, adapts quickly, and questions processes when patient care and outcomes can be improved.
However, innovation, advanced roles, and cross-disciplinary expertise do not always integrate easily into established structures.
I’ve learned that being “ahead” often comes with: resistance before recognition, adjustment before alignment and a lot of patience before progress
This year has required resilience, humility, and perseverance — but it has also reinforced my belief that growth happens at the edges of comfort zones, both individually and institutionally.
I remain grateful for the people who recognised value beyond job titles, for the teams open to collaboration, and for the lessons that strengthened my clarity, confidence, and direction.
I am ready to step into the next year full of hope; with deeper insight, renewed purpose, and continued commitment to high standards, ethical practice, and meaningful contribution — even when the path is not the easiest one.
Growth is rarely linear, but it is always worth it.

This year has been a challenging one — not because of lack of skills or commitment, but because settling into a work environment can be particularly complex when your experience sits slightly ahead of existing systems and within a niche specialisation. Working across different countries and health...

28/08/2025

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This image is a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come in the field of medicine, especially in the treatment of colore**al and a**l cancers. The historical photos depict early radiotherapy devices used to treat re**al or perineal tumors. These machines delivered focused radiation directly to the affected area using large external extension cones while patients were positioned either laterally or supine, or even seated in specialized chairs that allowed straddling the equipment. Though innovative for their time, these methods lacked the precision and safety standards we expect in modern medical care.

Today, treatments for early-stage colore**al and a**l cancers have significantly evolved. We now use highly targeted technologies such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and proton therapy, which allow precise delivery of radiation to tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. These advances, along with surgical techniques like minimally invasive laparoscopic resections and robotic-assisted surgeries, reflect a shift toward more patient-centered and less invasive care. This image serves as a humbling yet inspiring look at the progress medicine has made—from the crude machinery of the past to the life-saving innovations we use today.