A series of slides from a presentation about working in healthcare science, particularly biomedical science (with brief discussion also of voluntary work) (c) Chris Scott, 2007

1. Healthcare Scientists
Careers for Scientists
working in Healthcare

2. Health Professions
• Dietetics • Speech and Language
Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Critical Care Technology
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Clinical Scientists
• Physiotherapy
• Biomedical Scientists
• Clinical Psychology
• Independent Sector
• Diagnostic Radiography

3. Biomedical Scientist

4. Biomedical Scientist

5. Biomedical Scientist

6. Biomedical Scientist
• Barts and the London NHS Trust
• 500 Staff
• >10 different Disciplines
• Seven million tests every year
• Providing a pathology service for the
population of North East London

7. Biomedical Science
• Biomedical scientists investigate tissue and
body fluid samples to diagnose disease and
monitor the treatment of patients.

8. Biomedical Science
• From screening cancer to diagnosing HIV,
from blood transfusion to food poisoning
and infection control, biomedical scientists
are a vital part of modern healthcare,
working in partnership with doctors, nurses
and other healthcare professionals.

9. Biomedical Science Disciplines
• Clinical Chemistry • Cytology
• Clinical • Flow Cytometry
Haematology • Molecular Genetics
• Blood Transfusion • Virology
• Immunology • Bacteriology
• Histology • Transplantation

10. Medical Microbiology
• As a Biomedical Scientist in microbiology
you will study micro-organisms such as
bacteria, fungi and parasites which cause
disease
• You will identify these organisms and
establish the antibiotic treatment required to
kill them therefore stopping the disease.

12. Clinical Chemistry
• Biomedical Scientists analyse blood and
other biological materials to help the
diagnosis of disease e.g. diabetes.
• They also carry out toxicological studies,
test kidney and liver functions and help to
monitor therapies.

14. Transfusion Science
• Biomedical Scientists identify blood groups
for blood donation and ensure the correct
group blood is matched to the patient due to
receive the donation.
• They also make sure there is enough blood
available in case of emergency such as road
traffic accidents and operations.

16. Haematology
• Haematology is the study of blood.
• In this discipline you are involved with the
formation, composition, function and
diseases of the blood.
• Some of the diseases diagnosed in
haematology are leukaemia, malaria and
anaemia.

19. Histology
• In Histology tissue samples are studied
microscopically to establish the cause of
illness.
• Tissue may be taken during surgery or at
post mortem.
• Diseases such as cancer are diagnosed by
looking for abnormal features in tissue cells.

22. Cytology
• This discipline is best known for its work
screening cervical smears, but it also
provides a non-gynaecological service.
• Like Histology, specialised techniques are
used to prepare and study samples of
cellular material.

24. Virology
• Virology is the study of of viruses and the
disease caused by them such as German
measles, HIV and Chickenpox.
• It is also involved in the monitoring the
effects of vaccines.

26. Immunology
• Biomedical Scientists in Immunology deal
with the condition of the body’s immune
system and its role in infectious diseases,
allergies, tumour growth, tissue grafts and
organ transplantation.
• Their work is particularly important in the
monitoring and treatment of AIDS.

28. Immunology Laboratory
• The Immunology Laboratory consists of the
following areas of expertise:
– AUTOIMMUNITY
– IMMUNODEFICIENCY
– ALLERGY

29. Autoimmune Serology
• Autoimmune diseases occur when your own
immune system attacks itself.
• We can use a technique called
immunofluorescence which when you put
slides under a UV microscope the glow
green

30. Anti nuclear antibodies
• Antibodies to cell
components in the
nucleus
• Associated with a
disease called
systemic lupus
erythematosis

31. Immunodeficiency
• Immunodeficiency occurs if
you have part of your immune
system missing
• We use a machine called a
flow cytometer which counts
different types of blood cells
• We use this in monitoring
patients with HIV / AIDS and
other immunodeficiencies

32. Immunodeficiency
• We measure the
different types of
lymphocytes (B, T and
NK Cells) using the
cytometer
• On a blood film you
cannot distinguish the
different types of
lymphocytes

33. Allergy
• We test patients who
are allergic to different
foods, pollen, house
dust mite and drugs
• We use a machine
called a UNICAP to
do this test
• This is a picture of
elastoplast allergy

34. Allergy
• This is house dust
mite which eats
your dead skin and
leaves its droppings
in your bed!!
• One of the most
common allergies is
to be allergic to
these droppings

35. Career Opportunities
• Biomedical Scientists are found in
• NHS laboratories
• PHLS laboratories
• Forensic Science laboratories
• Blood Transfusion Service
• Medical Research Council
• University laboratories
• Pharmaceutical manufacturers.

36. Career Opportunities
• Continually changing dynamic profession
• Variety of exciting career opportunities
• Excellent promotion prospects
• Good terms and conditions of service

37. Career Development
• Management (operational & strategic)
• Research & Development
• Training & Education
• Professional Roles
• Procurement & Supplies
• Audit & Quality Management
• Health & Safety
• Commercial / Technical Specialists.
• Equipment Specialists

38. How do I become a Biomedical
Scientist?
• Accredited Biomedical Science Degree
• University of Leicester BSc Biological
Sciences not an accredited Degree
• So what next……..

39. How do I become a Biomedical
Scientist?
• Submit your degree with module descriptors
to the IBMS
• The IBMS will validate your degree
• Suggest top up modules if appropriate
• Then the training begins……..

40. Career Structure / Development
• Registration portfolio (1 year) leading to
qualification as a registrant biomedical
scientist
• Specialist Portfolio (12-18 months) leading
to qualification as a specialist biomedical
scientist
• MSc (Discipline Specific) leading to
opportunities as a Senior Biomedical
Scientist

41. Career Structure / Development
• Higher Specialist Examination
• Management Qualifications
• Extended Practice Portfolios

42. Further Career Options
• Army / TA
• Voluntary Sector
• Academia

43. Further Career Options
• TA run training
programmes every year
to train biomedical
scientists in setting up
field hospitals and
working with mobile kits
in field situations

44. Further Career Options
• (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organisation
that provides emergency medical assistance to
populations in danger in more than 80 countries.
• MSF are particularly developing their laboratory side
for their HIV and AIDS projects worldwide and their
focus on TB, opportunities for biomedical scientists
also exist in other areas.

45. Further Career Options
• VSO is an international
development charity that
works through
volunteers. We promote
volunteering to fight
global poverty and
disadvantage
• www.vso.org.uk

46. What is VSO ?
• international development charity
• works through volunteers
• Aims: enables men and women to work
alongside people in poorer countries in
order to share skills, build capabilities and
promote international understanding and
action, in the pursuit of a more equitable
world.

47. Voluntary Service Overseas
has 2,000 volunteers currently working
•
in 74 of the poorest countries
• Founded in 1958 – since then about
30,000 people have volunteered

48. Volunteers are:
aged 17 – 70 (average age 35)
•
skilled & experienced
•
able to spend 1 - 2 years overseas
•
willing to work for a modest living
•
allowance
willing to go where they are needed most
•

49. Personal qualities
• positive and realistic commitment
• self-assurance
• practical problem solving ability
• the ability to work with others
• sensitivity to the needs of others
• flexibility
• commitment to learning

50. VSO programmes
VSO standard 2-year placements
•
youth programmes
•
partnership schemes
•
leave of absence
•
south-south volunteering
•

51. Financial package
Employer provides
VSO provides
• Flights • accommodation
• Grants • modest living
• ISA allowance
• Health insurance
• N.I contributions
• Visas
• Training

52. Malawi

53. Further Information…

54. Professional Body
Institute of Biomedical Science
12 Coldbath Square
London EC1R 5HL
Tel 020 7713 0214
Fax 020 7436 4946
www.ibms.org

55. Regulatory Body
Health Professions Council,
Park House,
184 Kennington Park Road,
London, SE11 4BU
Phone: 020 7582 0866
Fax: 020 7820 9684
www.hpc-uk.org

56. Accreditation Body
CPA (UK) Limited
45 Rutland Park
Botanical Gardens
Sheffield S10 2PB
Phone: 0114 251 5800
Fax: 0114 251 5801
www.cpa-uk.co.uk

57. Thank you for listening
Any Questions…