Maja Lesniewska and Somia Janjua

Year 3 Students

(Genetics and Blood Sciences)

The Healthcare Science Experience

Healthcare ScienceThe Healthcare Science – Life Sciences (Genetics) degree began in 2010-2011 in Bradford, as an early adopter and our first cohort will graduate in December 2013 (3 students- 2x 1st Class Hons and 1x 2:1).

Healthcare Science – Life Sciences programmes (Blood Sciences, Cellular Sciences and Infection Sciences) also accredited in October 2011 by the HCSETB and all HCSspecialisms were accredited by the IBMS and HCPC in January 2012

Stage of Degree HCS Mean (%) BMS Mean (%)

Stage 1(8 students)

63.4 58.6

Stage 2 (5 students)

62.8 55.6

Healthcare Science (Life Sciences)

Student performance – 2012/13

HCS students chose a specialism during year 2 (following rotations in their year 1 placement)

2nd placement (as far as workforce planning and placement provision will allow) in that specialism, taught modules, research project and final placement in year 3 in the same specialist discipline (as far as University constraints will allow)

Therefore the students will return to the same laboratory in year 2 and 3

Specialisation

Healthcare Science Placements

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

1 10 weeks

2 15 weeks

3 4 weeks

21 weeks

Placements currently run in blocks: 10 weeks at the end of year 115 weeks at the end of year 225 weeks during year 3 of the degree- slight change in current Year 3

Healthcare Science Placements

Students and placement providers are prepared in advance for placements – student and trainer training days

Close relationship with employers / trainers and the Y+HHEE

Students are fully supported on placement by the University. A three way agreement and learning contract is signed by the student, workplace and University prior to placement

Workload: The students are completing the MSC and IBMS portfolio of competence – some issues with OLAT; thus completing a paper version instead.

• Staff: university tutor, placement tutor, 2 research project supervisors, other academic and clinical staff

• Integration between all stages of HCS

• Partial verification

• University tutor’s visits to placement

• Feedback

Placement and University Support

Semester 1 Semester 2 Placement

Research Project and WBL and Professional Practice 3

>Medical Genetics (20)>Independent Study (10 credits)

>Biology of Disease (20)

Genetics

>Research Topics 1 in Haematology and Transfusion Science (20)>Pregnancy and Paediatric Blood Science (10)

>Diagnostic Biochemistry and Immunology (20)

Blood Sciences

>Clinical Diagnostics in Reproductive Science (20)>Applications of Cytopathology (10)

>Diagnostic Histopathology (20)

Cellular Sciences

>Bacterial and Viral Pathogens (20)

>Parasitology and Fungal Infections (10)

>Diagnostic Microbiology (20)

Infection Sciences

Healthcare Science Year 3

Placement Experience- Genetics

• West Midlands Regional Genetic Laboratory within Birmingham Women’s NHS Foundation Trust

• Over 160 scientific, technical and support staff• Over 50 000 samples processed each year, split

between Molecular and Cytogenetics • Research active, with 10 journal publications

accepted since April 2013

• Personal Development Opportunities;

• Relationship between upper and lower years of degree

• Making Knowledge Work!

Things I Liked the Most So Far

Problems Encountered• Staff unfamiliar with IBMS and MSC portfolios• Clinical tutor on maternity leave• Graduating in December- can’t enrol on

PostGrad qualifications until the following year• Only short visits to other pathology disciplines in

the hospital• Discontinuous Funding- better planning needed

Placement Experience- Blood Sciences

• The Blood Science Laboratory includes:• Haematology: includes full blood counts, coagulation

assays, morphology of blood cells, also specialist tests for Leukaemia and Lymphoma diagnosis.

• Biochemistry: carry out tests for organ function, for example, kidney, liver, enzymes and cardiac function.

• Blood transfusion: provide red cells and other blood products for transfusion and antenatal testing.

My Experience • The university organised my placement at

the Harrogate District Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. 

• It allowed practical application of the knowledge I had learnt in university and allowed me to gain an understanding of the work environment.

• By going out on placement I was able to decide that I preferred working in an environment with patient contact.

My Experience • My placement was particularly good as I was

able to work in various environments, getting the opportunity to work with staff of all grades in several departments.

• My employers appeared pleased with the quality of my work, and was very supportive through out my placement time.

The Positives…• It allows to see proper workplace operates and

learnt so many things that university lectures could never teach. 

• It allows you to decide if want to work in a diagnostic laboratory or research laboratory.

• Employers and university tutors are very supportive throughout the year.

• Better Job prospects- IBMS registered as degree finishes

• Gain practical skills• Allows to develop interpersonal skills• Additional training opportunities• Carry out our final year project in placement

…and the Negatives

• Funding

• Workload

• Resources

• No genetics rotation

Would we recommend this career pathway?

• Yes!

• A very good opportunity- you’re choosing a career, not just a degree!

• HCS students score better in modules

• It shape one’s personality through challenges and experiences

• Possibility of informed choice

• First National Trainee Event-January 2013• Practical Introduction to Transfusion Science at

Sheffield NHS Blood and Transplant• Pregnancy and Paediatrics module includes

additional visits to relevant pathology laboratories• Better employment opportunities

-One of the first graduates already employed by his placement laboratory!

Additional Opportunities

The employers and trainers group and Y+HHEE have been very supportive

Student feedback – HCS (Life Sciences) students in each stage

Accreditation – HCSETB / HEE and IBMS accreditation and HCPC approval

The first university in the UK to get Genetics graduates

Success of Healthcare Science at Bradford