“I love working in a scientific role where I can make a difference to patients.” | Latest news

Staff working in science-based roles  are sharing their thoughts about what makes them proud to be Healthcare Scientists in the NHS.

It is part of Healthcare Science Week, an annual week-long programme designed to promote the amazing work of healthcare science professionals and highlight the difference they make to patients' lives. 

At Nottingham University Hospitals Trust there are nearly 550 Healthcare Scientists who play a key part in patient care, research and innovation.

Their roles can include working in areas such as Life Sciences, Physiological Sciences, Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering (MPCE) and Bioinformatics.

Introducing some of our Healthcare Scientists

Heading up the team of Healthcare Scientists is Chief Scientist Claire Greaves.  Claire has spent many years working in Nuclear Medicine and Medical Physics.

Speaking about her role, she said: “I love working in a scientific role where I can use my scientific knowledge to make a difference to patient care and in a leadership role where I can support our scientific workforce. I also enjoy having a job where I am always learning new skills.

“The work is interesting, varied and rewarding. If you choose to pursue a career in Healthcare Sciences, you will have a career with lots of opportunities to use your scientific knowledge and to develop new skills, to specialise in areas where  you are interested and contribute to the delivery of innovative patient care.”

“I never imagined any of this would be possible for me.”

Chinyere Ajonu, a  Specialist Biomedical Scientist is currently completing the Institute of Biomedical Science, Specialist Diploma in Virology. Chinyere grew up in Nigeria and said she never imagined any of this would be possible for her.

In her role she works as part of the Microbiology Service at the Queen’s Medical Centre; the team that set up, almost overnight, a Covid-19 testing service, for not only our patients and staff, but they supported various other healthcare providers, including care homes and other hospitals, who didn’t have the facilities to conduct the tests.

Ajonu said: “In my role I enjoy collaborating with scientists and other healthcare professionals in a lab environment to help improve patient’s lives and contribute to the advancement of healthcare.”

Queen’s New Year Honours for Clinical Engineer

Professor Dan Clark OBE, Head of Clinical Engineering, has worked in the NHS for more than 35 years and was awarded with an OBE by her by Her Majesty the Queen, in the New Year 2021 Honours List, for services to Clinical Engineering.

As well as this he has also been presented with a Chief Scientific Officer’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to engineering.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the UK, Dan and a team of experts established a national technical due diligence team to test and ensure that non-standard ventilators and other medical kit which were rapidly brought in from all over the world were fit for purpose.

Being a healthcare scientist is an interesting and fulfilling

Gemma Clark is a Consultant Clinical Scientist and Microbiology Head of Service. She said: “I enjoy the variety that my role brings, and that every day is different.

“I love that I can take my scientific skills and apply them to clinical practice, to find ways to improve the diagnosis and management of infections and it’s a great feeling when a service improvement project that your team has worked so hard on delivers real benefit to patient care.

“Being a healthcare scientist is an interesting and fulfilling career and the healthcare science workforce is expanding, so there are many opportunities to develop a career in the field. It is an exciting time of development, and what a great opportunity it is to apply advancements in science and technology to improved healthcare.”

To find out more about Healthcare Science roles in the NHS visit: www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-science