Build your own bacteria at Nottingham's hospital Pathology laboratory
Find out what working life is like for the experts in white coats as they analyse body fluids and tissues at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust on Saturday 9 November.
Visitors can build their own bacteria and perform tests, see human tissue analysed and watch diseases diagnosed, when scientists and doctors run two-hour tours at the QMC’s pathology laboratory. Budding scientists and pathologists can also discover how to get started in their career.
Booking details are on the Eventbrite website here.
The department employs more than 500 people across QMC and City Hospital sites, and processes over 10,000 samples a day.
Adam Barke, Quality and Safety Manager at the Pathology department, said: “People often think pathology means cutting up murder victims and DNA identification, because of TV programmes like CSI and Silent Witness, but a lot of the time, we’re the detectives, tracking down the clues to illnesses rather than crimes.
“Our job is to help make sure patients get the best care and treatment, by giving our doctors fast and accurate information so they know exact details of their condition.”
There will also be a cake sale in aid of Nottingham Blood Bikes, who provide an out-of-hours, emergency transport service to the NHS, delivering blood and other urgent medical items between hospitals in and around Nottinghamshire.
The open day is only suitable for people aged 16 years and over. Visitors must book on one of the two tours first, using Eventbrite (search for Nottingham pathology open day), and register on site at 9.30 and 11.30am respectively. The pathology labs are near the MRI department on A Floor (the level below the main entrance on Derby Road and the tram bridge), in the West Block. There will be signs, and the hospital front desk can also give directions.