A young patient has become the first to take part in an interactive Harvey’s Lab Tour at St Mary’s Hospital, giving children a behind-the-scenes look at the science behind their diagnosis and treatment.
The Blood Sciences team at St Mary’s Hospital recently welcomed Deezul, along with his mum and aunt, for the Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s first Harvey’s Lab Tour.
The initiative gives young patients the chance to explore the laboratory, meet the biomedical scientists and laboratory staff working behind the scenes, and discover what happens to their samples after they are taken.
During the visit, Deezul followed the journey of a blood sample through the laboratory, from being booked into the computer system to being analysed. Wearing his own Harvey’s Lab Tours lab coat, he also took part in a series of hands-on activities, including experimenting with colour-changing chemicals, examining a blood film under a microscope and carrying out blood grouping.
The tours are designed to help reduce anxiety by giving children and their families a better understanding of the tests they may undergo and the important role laboratory teams play in supporting patient care.
Keegan Brown, Medical Laboratory Assistant in Blood Sciences at Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said:
“It was a fantastic start to Harvey’s Lab Tours in Blood Sciences. It was wonderful to show Deezul and his family the science behind diagnosis and the important work carried out by our laboratory teams every day.
Article continues below this advertisement “We hope these tours help make hospital experiences less daunting for children while inspiring curiosity about biomedical science. This is the start of something really exciting, and we look forward to welcoming many more young people in the future.”
Harvey’s Lab Tours are part of a national initiative that gives children a unique insight into pathology services through interactive activities and hands-on learning, helping them to better understand their care and feel more confident about their hospital experience.
Healthcare professionals who feel a patient may benefit from a Harvey’s Lab Tour can contact the Blood Transfusion Team by emailing [email protected].
