AN Inverclyde man is finally set to realise his dream of becoming a fully-qualified physio thanks to a three-year stint at IRH.

Steven McDowall currently works at the hospital as a physiotherapy assistant practitioner, joining the team just before the pandemic hit in 2020.

He holds a degree in sports science and has applied for the highly-competitive physiotherapy masters course for the last SIX years, so is delighted to have finally landed a place at university.

Steven said: “It’s been six years in the making, I have applied each year since my undergrad, but it’s highly competitive.

"My undergrad was in sports science, my careers advisor at school had told me I could do that then do the post-grad in physiotherapy.

"While I have been waiting to get a place it’s been so great to work here and get so much valuable experience.

“The team here are fabulous, they are so supportive and have given me so many opportunities to learn over the last few years.

"They help to push me in the right direction.

“I was lucky to get a job at the IRH just before Covid hit and I’ve been working here and getting so much experience on the medical wards for the last three years.

"I have also been able to get some experience in the stroke and care for the elderly wards too.

“If it wasn’t for the team I would have maybe decided not to apply for the course the last couple of years and look for something else. But they have given me so many assurances that I’m good at what I’m doing and to keep going.”

Steven has been following in the footsteps of many of his family by working at IRH. He will begin his masters at Glasgow Caledonian University in January, with a busy time ahead of him and his fiancée Gemma.

He said: “We’re getting married next year and we have also just found out that we are having a wee one in January, which is also when the course starts, so I’ve managed to do it all at the same time!

“My dad was an advanced nurse practitioner at the IRH and my sister, my brother-in-law, my cousin and my auntie are all nurses here too, so I always wanted to work in healthcare. I have just branched off into a different area.

“I’ve always been fascinated with how the body works, my grandpa had heart surgery years ago and had Alzheimer's, so over the years watching him getting physiotherapy and how much it benefitted him underlined me wanting to become a physio.

“I love working at Inverclyde Royal because it’s local and my family have worked here.

"It feels good to be able to give something back to the local area.

"You get to know the patients really well and know what’s going on in the area.”

Louise Watson, IRH site lead, has congratulated Steven on his success.

She said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Steven has now been accepted for his post-grad in physiotherapy, he has worked extremely hard and is already a valued member of the IRH team.

“Steven has already built strong relationships with the Inverclyde community and our patients and I have no doubt he will make a brilliant physiotherapist.”