"I thought it was going to be a short term thing"
29-year-old Becky Denton reveals how she thought her job with the squad would only be a stepping stone in her medicine career...
How did you get started in tissue donation?
I started in Tissues in 2005 after replying to an advert on the NHS jobs website. I'd just left university where I did a BSc in Anatomy and Human Biology, I saw the advert and, considering what I'd studied, I thought it sounded perfect!
What attracted you to the job?
I had never heard of tissue donation before and had no idea the tissue bank existed. I thought it sounded amazing and luckily I got the job!
Tell us a surprising fact about tissue donation...
Erm... Well the one thing people seem most surprised at is that there isn't an upper age limit to be considered as a donor; people often say; "Oh no I'm too old aren't I?" No matter what age you are, you could still donate skin, bone and eyes, as well as tissues for research.
What are your interests away from work?
My hobbies outside of work include drumming, classic car restoration, [going to gigs] and festivals, painting, EATING, and my dog, Dottie!
Did you think you鈥檇 stay in the job?
NO; when I first started I thought it was going to be a short term thing - I was actually going to use this as a stepping stone before going on to study medicine! It's now 10 years later and luckily for the NHS I am not treating live patients!
What are the perks of the job?
One of the main perks of the job I think is a bit of a double edged sword, and that's the travelling. It's great that we're not stuck in one place all the time and we do get out and about and see lots of new places and get a change of scenery. I would hate to be stuck in one of those offices that's split into cubicles just staring at the same four walls every day. However, the driving can be a nightmare and getting stuck in traffic on the M6 is a massive pain. Also, the vans are pretty uncomfortable and REALLY noisy, so we're hardly travelling in style!
Where do you see yourself in five years鈥� time?
My aspirations for five years' time involve a white sandy beach, a cocktail and a personal butler dressed in an apron. Just an apron!
