WESTON GENERAL HOSPITAL PATHOLOGY LABORATORIES PROMOTING THE VITAL ROLE OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE IN HEALTHCARE

Weston General Hospital’s Pathology Department is celebrating National Biomedical Science Day on Thursday 20 June 2019. Pathology staff at Weston are holding a stall in the hospital main entrance where staff, patients and visitors can find out more about the role of a biomedical scientist.

Biomedical Science Day is a national event organised by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), the professional body for biomedical scientists and laboratory support staff. The awareness day aims to inform the public and empower patients by telling them about practices in biomedical science, strengthen interdisciplinary team work and communication in hospitals and celebrate a profession that is at the heart of healthcare.

Now in its third year, Biomedical Science Day has gained significant popularity amongst biomedical laboratory staff across the UK, with hundreds of laboratories opening their doors or organising events in their local hospitals and schools. Biomedical scientists and their staff mostly work in healthcare laboratories diagnosing diseases and evaluating the effectiveness of treatments by analysing fluids and tissue samples from patients. In the UK, healthcare laboratories are involved in over 70% of diagnoses in the NHS, handling over 150 million samples every year.

Weston’s Pathology Department includes a medical microbiology laboratory and blood sciences laboratory. Blood sciences consist of clinical biochemistry, haematology and transfusion. So if you’ve ever had to provide a blood, stool, urine or tissue sample locally, chances are it was sent to our Pathology Department. Hidden away in the hospital, pathology uses specialist automated machines as well as manual skills and techniques performed by highly trained scientists.

Patrick Simms, Senior Biomedical Scientist and Pathology Training Manager at Weston Area Health NHS Trust, said: “Biomedical Science Day is a valuable opportunity for us to build relationships with our colleagues, patients and public. By taking off our white lab coats we can help lift the lid on the mystery of pathology and show the vital role of biomedical science within healthcare.”

Alison Geddis, President of the Institute of Biomedical Science, said: “Despite many encounters with our work throughout their lifetime, most people are unaware of the important role of biomedical science in diagnosis, treatment and general healthcare. The aim of Biomedical Science Day is to inform the public about the full range of expertise involved in hospital care, and to celebrate our great profession.”

Want to find out more, then why not come and chat to the team in the main entrance of the hospital on Thursday 20 June 2019.

ENDS

For further details, please contact:

IBMS communications team

Tel: 020 7713 0214

Email: communications@ibms.org

Press office

Weston Area Health NHS Trust

Tel: 01934 647 182

Email: wnt-tr.pressoffice@nhs.net