Healthcare Scientists

Careers for Scientists working in Healthcare

Health Professions

• Dietetics• Occupational Therapy• Clinical Pharmacy• Physiotherapy • Clinical Psychology• Diagnostic Radiography

• Speech and Language Therapy

• Critical Care Technology• Clinical Scientists• Biomedical Scientists• Independent Sector

Biomedical Scientist

Biomedical Scientist

Biomedical Scientist

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

Biomedical Science

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

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.

Biomedical Science Disciplines

• Clinical Chemistry• Clinical

Haematology• Blood Transfusion• Immunology• Histology

• Cytology• Flow Cytometry• Molecular Genetics• Virology• Bacteriology• Transplantation

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Immunology Laboratory

• The Immunology Laboratory consists of the following areas of expertise:

– AUTOIMMUNITY– IMMUNODEFICIENCY– ALLERGY

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

Anti nuclear antibodies

• Antibodies to cell components in the nucleus

• Associated with a disease called systemic lupus erythematosis

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

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

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

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

Career Opportunities

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

Career Opportunities

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

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

How do I become a Biomedical Scientist?

• Accredited Biomedical Science Degree

• University of Leicester BSc Biological Sciences not an accredited Degree

• So what next……..

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……..

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

Career Structure / Development

• Higher Specialist Examination

• Management Qualifications

• Extended Practice Portfolios

Further Career Options

• Army / TA• Voluntary Sector• Academia

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

VSO programmes

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

Financial package

VSO provides• Flights• Grants• ISA• Health insurance• N.I contributions• Visas• Training

Employer provides• accommodation• modest living

allowance

Malawi

Further Information…

Professional Body

Institute of Biomedical Science

12 Coldbath Square

London EC1R 5HL

Tel 020 7713 0214

Fax 020 7436 4946

www.ibms.org

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

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

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