Healthcare Science Week: Celebrating our scientists

9 March 2018

They don’t just work in labs – and their unique contribution to patient care is helping to transform lives and drive innovation.

The role of NHS healthcare scientists, who work in a variety of positions to support patients at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), is to be celebrated during Healthcare Science Week; part of British Science Week.

From 9 March until 18 March, the light will shine on the role of these unsung heroes of the NHS – who often work behind the scenes – to make a difference to patients’ lives.

Nationally, healthcare science covers some 48 different professions. At SaTH, there are healthcare scientists working in departments including Audiology, Cardiorespiratory, Medical Physics, Fertility, Pathology, Medical Engineering, Maxillo-Facial and Phlebotomy.

Consultant Embryologist and Andrologist, Jason Kasraie, who is the Trust’s Organisational Lead Scientist, said: “People working in healthcare science don’t often get the opportunity to talk about the work they do and the difference they make to people’s lives. Everything that healthcare science staff do supports and improves patient care, and their unique contribution of bringing cutting edge science to patient services should be celebrated.

“Healthcare Science Week is the perfect opportunity to promote healthcare science as an exciting career option for young people and highlight our work to the wider community. Healthcare science staff cover a diverse range of specialisms, everything from directly helping patients on a ward, to working with other healthcare professionals on ground breaking research.

“We’re really keen to encourage people to consider joining our Trust in a healthcare science role and quite a few of our departments have taken on trainees or are developing staff to help create the healthcare scientists of the future. There is so much variety in healthcare science that there really is something for everyone and all play a big role in supporting our patients.”

Twenty-five-year-old Jordan Grylls is a trainee healthcare scientist in Cardiac Science, working at the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford. Jordan completed a BSc in Neuroscience at Leeds University and is currently on the NHS Scientist Training Programme – a three year training programme that includes work-based and academic learning. Whilst on the programme, Jordan is completing a Master’s Degree in Clinical Science.

She said: “I always liked the idea of working in a hospital, and when I came across the NHS Scientist Training programme, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to combine science and working with patients in a hospital environment. I am training to be a physiologist, and my role includes monitoring angiograms, echocardiographs, pacemaker programming and invasive diagnostics. I also have the opportunity to do research, and be involved with patients every day, which is really enjoyable and very interesting. Every day is so varied, it is definitely a career that I would recommend to others.”

Twenty-five-year-old Emily Tonks has been working in the Trust since 2015 and is in her final year of training as a pre-registrant embryologist with the Shropshire and Mid Wales Fertility Centre, based at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH).

She said: “As the eldest of six grandchildren I was always the one looking after the babies and I am very family orientated. I love science too and have done since a very early age, so I really do have the perfect job. I started with a work placement in pharmaceuticals – but it felt so far removed from the patients. I knew that I wanted a career that was patient-facing whilst still being scientific and being able to make a difference.”

Emily did a BSc in Biological Science and Cell Biology at the University of Warwick, which is where she heard about the NHS Scientist Training Programme in Reproductive Science – a three year post graduate scheme with work based training and an intercalated MSc in Clinical Science. Her job as a pre-registrant embryologist involves egg collections, sperm preparation, IVF inseminations as well as freezing the eggs and sperm of those patients undergoing treatment for cancer.

“I started here in 2015, and I am now in my final year after three years of training. Every day has been amazing. I do egg collections (which is a little like treasure hunting!) and put them together with the sperm, and when I come in in the morning I can see if they have fertilized, and follow their progress. I speak to patients every day and let them know how their embryos are developing, answering any questions that they may have. I go on that journey with them.

“I would absolutely recommend my job to someone looking for a career in healthcare. We work closely with patients, helping to make a difference, bring hope and make a dream come true. And if you are very scientifically minded – it is fantastic to be able to see the embryos growing and developing too.”

Charlotte Gandy, 23 is also on the NHS Scientist Training Programme, specialising in Respiratory and Sleep Science. She completed a degree in Biology at York University before joining the programme – and is in her second year.

“I have always been interested in healthcare, and knew that this was a career that I wanted to pursue. The best part of this job is being able to apply science to directly impact patients’ lives; it was the perfect opportunity to utilise my degree and be involved with patients too,” said Charlotte.

“The training is very varied and there are so many opportunities. I carry out pulmonary function tests, as well as oxygen assessments and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. I also administer sleep equipment, and then analyse the data in cases of sleep apnea. If you are interested in healthcare and science, it is the best career choice, as it enables you to do both.”