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As part of Healthcare Science Week, we put the spotlight on some of our Healthcare Scientists and recognised their outstanding work.

Science and technology are vital in modern patient care and change lives for the better. Healthcare Science Week (13-19 March) raises awareness of the diverse careers in healthcare science and its aim is to inspire the scientific workforce of the future.

Find out a little about some of your Healthcare Scientist colleagues below:

Mark Hardy, Consultant Clinical Scientist and Head of Radiotherapy Physics

I’m a physicist working in radiotherapy at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. Radiotherapy is the treatment of cancer with radiation. I lead a team of 24 scientists and technologists who maintain and test treatment machines, design the treatments using sophisticated computer simulations, make individualised treatment support devices, and safely introduce the latest equipment and treatment techniques in radiotherapy.

As a Consultant Clinical Scientist in radiotherapy physics, I am responsible for a wide range of elements of our support to radiotherapy. The work varies hugely from day to day and can include providing advice on unusual treatments through to identifying new innovations that we should aim to implement at the hospital. A major part of my role is leadership and management of the team.

I love that I can use my knowledge of physics to help save lives and alleviate symptoms from cancer, something I didn’t even know was possible when I started studying physics. I also enjoy the day-to-day variety of the job, exploring new innovations and technologies, as well as being part of a scientific team and developing and training staff.

Ines Chapa-Chorda – Newlyqualified Clinical Embryologist (Clinical Scientist)

I’m a Clinical Embryologist. My role mainly involves carrying out procedures in the laboratory such as collecting oocytes, performing IVF, assessing embryo quality, performing embryo transfers, and cryopreserving embryos and gametes among others. There are different routes you can follow to become a Clinical Embryologist. I undertook the Scientist Training Programme, which is a threeyear training course with work-based learning complemented with an MSc in Clinical Science. The completion of this course allows you to join the HCPC register, which is a requirement to practice as a Clinical Scientist.

I love everything about my job, I have the best job in the world. From being in the lab looking after embryos and performing procedures to talking to patients and supporting them through their journey. It’s wonderful to be a part of a patient’s treatment and to be able to help them start a family.

Becky Jones, Senior Clinical Scientist

I’m a Clinical Scientist specialising in Biochemistry. I participate in a duty biochemist rota which involves fielding queries from staff within the laboratory and other healthcare professionals. I am responsible for providing a quality check of abnormal test results generated from patients from within the hospital or in the community.

This quality process involves identifying acutely abnormal changes in results which warrant urgent communication. I have other responsibilities such as chairing the Duty Biochemists’ monthly meeting as well as other quality improvement projects.

After completion of my undergraduate degree in anatomy and human biology, I started work as a Medical Laboratory Assistant at RSH. I later became an

Associate Practitioner based in Blood Transfusion. I decided to pursue a career as a healthcare scientist and applied for the competitive Scientific Training Programme (STP). I was offered a three-year (paid) work-based placement in East Kent Hospitals. It is here that I completed a portfolio of work demonstrating my knowledge and understanding of a range of topics in blood science and specialist biochemistry. Alongside this, I completed a fully funded MSc in Clinical Biochemistry at The University of Manchester.

Amanda Rainbow, Lead Reporting Biomedical Scientist in Cellular Pathology

As the Lead Reporting Biomedical Scientist (BMS) in Cellular Pathology, my role is a mixture of laboratory management, specimen dissection and training to report gastrointestinal histopathology. I spend around 60% of my week reporting biopsies and larger resection samples under the supervision of one of the department’s Consultant Histopathologists.

The rest of the time is spent working on strategic development of cellular pathology, governance and dissection. I did my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and then completed a Masters in Cellular Engineering over 20 years ago. My first role was as a trainee Biomedical Scientist in 2002 and I worked my way up to Head BMS. In 2020 I started the Institute of Biomedical Science Advanced Specialist Diploma in Histopathology Reporting, specialising in Gastrointestinal Pathology. I will be taking the Stage C exam, similar to the FRCPath part 2, later this year. Once qualified I will be able to apply for a Consultant Biomedical Scientist role. in addition to a science degree or through an apprenticeship route.

I followed the apprenticeship route after working in specimen reception as a medical laboratory assistant for four years.

Louisa Jakeways, Associate Practitioner (AP) of Biomedical Science

Amber

Haynes, Biomedical Scientist working in Haematology

I am currently a Biomedical Scientist (BMS) working in Haematology within a hospital laboratory. My role involves processing (predominantly) blood samples from their arrival into the laboratory to the release of the results back to the clinician. This requires sample labelling, computer entry, manual and automated techniques and theoretical knowledge to add additional tests and authorise results.

Qualifications required to become a BMS involve completion of an accredited degree in biomedical/ healthcare science and completion of the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) professional portfolio. Completion of the IBMS professional portfolio is a necessity, which can be done in a variety of ways - through completion of top-up modules

I am currently working in Blood Sciences and my role involves supporting my colleagues - biomedical scientists who are reporting patient results and medical laboratory assistants who process most of the patient samples. Working with other healthcare professionals, we produce reliable diagnostics and ensure the highest standards of patient care. I perform a mixture of tasks from manual testing of blood samples, troubleshooting and maintaining automatic analysers to training and administration tasks.

Whilst it is essential to follow protocols and management direction I still get to organise and plan my own workload. No day is the same and there are always different tasks to carry out. I also get to communicate with lots of different departments and specialties around the hospital and there is always something new to learn.