In surgical care, recognition often goes to those in the theatre. But what about the teams whose work makes every procedure possible, and safe?

In Episode 2 of Behind The Mask, we sit down with Rob Warburton, Trust Decontamination Lead at Manchester University Hospitals and Director of Marketing & Communications for the IDSC, and Sharon Fox, Head of Decontamination at University Hospital Birmingham and Finance Director for the IDSC.

Rob and Sharon discuss: how the profession is evolving, why community matters, and what it takes to achieve professional recognition in a field that’s been undervalued for too long.

From Shop Floor to Healthcare Scientist: Career Progression That Matters

Both Rob and Sharon started their careers with no formal qualifications. Today, they both hold Masters degrees and are recognised healthcare scientists.

“I started with no qualifications,” Rob shares. “But there are development opportunities throughout your career. Sharon and I are both sitting here with MSc degrees now that we’ve done through decontamination.”

Sharon’s journey began with a part-time SSD technician role she saw in the local paper. “I got married young, had two children, and forgot how to speak to adults,” she laughs. “I thought, ‘Oh, I can do that.’ My first job was learning how to fold a surgeon’s gown.”

Fast forward decades, and she’s now managing decontamination services across multiple hospital sites, leading professional development initiatives, and representing the UK on the world stage.

This profession offers genuine career progression – if you apply yourself, the sky is the limit.

Professional Recognition: Healthcare Scientists, Not Just Technicians

A major theme throughout the episode is the shift from being seen as “support services” to being recognised as healthcare scientists.

“We’re now recognised as healthcare scientists,” Sharon explains. “That’s the professionalism. To maintain that registration, people have got to develop.”

The IDSC (Institute of Decontamination Sciences) is the only UK professional body affiliated with the Academy for Healthcare Science. It’s also now registered with the UK Professional Bodies Council, a milestone that took years of work.

“There’s a lot of clubs and organisations that consider themselves professional bodies,” Rob notes, “but they’re not registered on the council. IDSC is, and that’s why it’s the important one. That’s why we’re at the upper level talking to the Department of Health, NHSE, MHRA, and shaping the standards.”

For professionals in the field, this means access to:

• Chartered member status
• Registration as healthcare scientists
• CPD opportunities that maintain professional standing
• A voice in policy and standards development

The Power of Community: Branch Meetings, Mentorship, and Shared Learning

One of the most compelling parts of the conversation is Rob and Sharon’s discussion of the decontamination community itself.

“It’s an incestuous industry,” Rob says with a laugh. “Within the wider healthcare industry, decontamination is very niche. People tend to be around for a long time, and you get to know everyone.”

But that close-knit nature is a strength. Branch meetings provide opportunities for benchmarking, shared learning, and support, especially for junior managers who may not have strong mentorship within their own organisations.

“The branch meetings are really good,” Sharon adds. “We meet twice a year now, and it’s not just reading minutes, it’s full-blown discussions. You really feel like you’re getting something out of it.”

Both Rob and Sharon emphasise that the value of IDSC membership extends beyond education. It’s about:

• Access to experienced professionals who’ve faced similar challenges
• Networking opportunities that lead to career advancement
• International opportunities, from speaking at conferences in Dubai to representing the UK at the World Forum in Chile and Hong Kong

A Global Perspective: Why the UK Leads

One of the most surprising revelations in the episode? The UK is 10 years ahead of the United States in decontamination standards.

“When I went to Chile, it was full of 600-700 people – all nurses – and they all want to be like the UK,” Sharon recalls. “They think the UK is at the top with regards to standards, training, and development. In America, they’re still handwashing surgical instrumentation.”

Despite the US inventing much of the robotic surgery technology used today, their decontamination practices lag significantly behind UK and European standards.

Why? As Rob explains, the NHS operates under more rigorous regulation and standards because it’s publicly funded. Private healthcare organisations don’t always adhere to the same level of quality assurance.

“People like to talk badly of standards of care in the NHS,” Rob says, “but when it comes to regulation and standards, there’s nothing higher than the NHS.”

The IDSC Congress: Education, Networking, and Industry Support

Rob and Sharon are passionate advocates for the IDSC Annual Congress, and for good reason. Unlike other conferences, the Congress is designed to provide CPD-worthy education at every level, from shop floor technicians to authorising engineers.

“We make sure there are lectures for people like us,” Rob explains. “There are sessions for junior team members, but also technical sessions and great debates for authorising engineers, decontamination leads, and industry experts.”

This year’s Congress features:

• NHS Supply Chain leads available for Q&A
• Clinical entrepreneurs from NHS Innovation
• Dr. Selene Hara, a principal microbiologist from Ireland
• Senior representatives discussing AI in healthcare

For industry, the Congress offers access to decision-makers in an intimate setting. As Sharon points out, the footfall consists of practitioners and senior managers, not just attendees collecting goodie bags.

Why This Episode Matters

At Athera, we launched Behind The Mask to shine a light on every role that contributes to surgical excellence. Rob and Sharon’s conversation is a powerful reminder that professional recognition, community support, and continuous education are what elevate a profession.

Whether you’re a decontamination professional yourself, a surgeon who relies on sterile services, or a hospital leader responsible for patient safety, this episode offers insights into a profession that’s rapidly evolving, and leading the world in doing so.

Watch the Full Episode

Episode Length: 57 minutes
Featured Guests: Rob Warburton (Manchester University Hospitals NHS FT & IDSC) and Sharon Fox (University Hospital Birmingham NHS FT & IDSC)

Join the Conversation

If this episode resonated with you, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Share your own career journey or experiences with the decontamination community by emailing us at marketing@atherahealthcare.com

About Behind The Mask

Behind The Mask is Athera Healthcare’s monthly video series highlighting the people, partnerships, and perspectives that drive surgical excellence. Each episode goes beyond technology to uncover the roles and relationships critical to delivering better patient outcomes.

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