| Healthcare
Science Awareness Week, supported by the Department of Health, has
been created to both acknowledge the important contribution made
by all the healthcare scientists in the NHS, as well as to educate
young adults, the media and other NHS staff about the different
roles played by healthcare scientists in healthcare today.
What happened during Healthcare Science Awareness Week 2004?
National
On a national level, over 90 'Special Status' science, engineering
and technology schools are being offered the chance to have a talk
or presentation from a local healthcare scientist, either during
the week itself or at a convenient time in the future.
On the web
A month-long Healthcare Science Web Forum (16th November - 10th
December) was launched, into which the general public, students
and others with an interest in the world of science in health could
post questions to a special team of expert 'Responders' covering
the three main areas of healthcare science.
A new Healthcare Science website is being developed at www.learnaboutscienceinhealth.org
by NHS Careers and the healthcare science community. Aimed at primary
and secondary school pupils and teachers, it will include lesson
plans and interactivity and many different stories from real life
healthcare scientists in keeping with the national curriculum. .
This will go 'live' in December 2004.
For young people
Start of a special programme of awareness raising with young people
about the world of science in health, including visits by healthcare
scientists to a variety of schools, colleges and other institutions
(including 100 Special Status Science, Engineering and Technology
Schools around England)
Teachers and group leaders can request a visit by a healthcare
scientist to schools, colleges, universities or other young persons'
groups by emailing healthcarescientists@carlson-europe.com
In the NHS
Launch of a new range of materials for those with an interest in
promoting careers in healthcare science in the NHS:
- Leaflets for distribution to school/college students and other
young people
- Toolkit on working with young people to promote Healthcare Science
- Toolkit containing methods of raising the profile of Healthcare
Science
- Information and advice on developing new careers materials for
tomorrow's workforce
Some events from the Week
MONDAY - FRIDAY: The National Blood Service,
who employ many of our key
healthcare scientists, arranged for local schools to visit their
major NBS sites across England. These are located in Brentwood,
Birmingham, Bristol, Colindale, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield,
Southampton, and Tooting, London SW17.
MONDAY 15TH
London: 11.00-3.00: St Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, SE1
7EH
Pan London Healthcare Science Awareness Week Launch
Professor Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer, Department of Health
launched the national week at this event. It included display stands
manned by representatives from the three faculties of healthcare
science - Life Sciences; Physiological Sciences; and Medical Physics
and Engineering. Local residents were invited to come along and
to find out what healthcare scientists have to offer.
TUESDAY 16TH
London: 11.10-12.50:
Launch of month long National Healthcare Science Web
Forum, St Saviours and St Olave's School, New Kent Road, London,
SE1 4AN
(http://forum.learnaboutscienceinhealth.org - 15th November - 10th
December).
A special 'live' Q&A session was held with 50 Key Stage 9
and Sixth Form students
from the school. St Saviours and St Olave's attained it's position
as a new Special Status Science College in October this year. The
live panel included Professor Sue Hill (CS), Foluke Ajayi (National
Lead for HCS, DH);Dr Keith Ison (Chair, Federation of Healthcare
Scientists), Dr Don Henderson, Consultant Clinical Scientist, Imperial
College, Prof Stephen Holgate (Chair of the Science in Health Group
of the Science Council). Students asked questions about all aspects
of healthcare science, including life sciences, physiological sciences,
and medical physics and engineering. Displays of the three areas
of healthcare science were also available to allow the students
'hands on' experience of some of the equipment used by scientists
in health.
WEDNESDAY 17TH
MANCHESTER: Greater Manchester Healthcare Science Network Launch,
Science and Industry Museum of Manchester
9.30-1.30: Launch of network (including presentations from Professor
Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer, Department of Health, and Dr
Keith Ison, Federation for Healthcare Science)
1.15-2.55: Invited local schoolchildren heard talks on topics
including histocompatibility and immunogenics; neurophysiology;
biomedical science; medical physics and audiology.
2.55-3.15: Demonstrations and opportunities to talk to attending
healthcare scientists in more detail
THURSDAY 18TH
LONDON: House of Commons, Terrace Marquee
Healthcare Scientists getting results for the NHS
12.00-5.00 (12.30 lunch; presentations c. 1-1.30pm) INVITATION ONLY
Hosted by Siobhain McDonagh, MP, supported by the five London SHA's,
London
Workforce Progamme Office and the British InVitro Diagnostics Association
(BIVDA). The event was attended by MPs, healthcare scientists and
Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Sue Hill, as well as other senior
NHS and DH staff.
Displays covered the three divisions of healthcare science - Life
Sciences; Medical Physics and Engineering, and Physiological Sciences
- including Max-fax prosthetics, blood pressure monitoring, neurology
and audiology, and microscopy showing MRSA, Sickle Cell and TB slides.
Presentations were made by Simone De-Lacey, Consultant Technologist
(Sleep
Psychology); Joanne Clapton, Biomedical Scienctist (Biomedical Science
in
Paediatrics) and Nick Gulliver, Medical Physicist (Medical Physics).
MANCHESTER: BRITISH ACADEMY OF AUDIOLOGY INAUGURAL CONFERENCE
(until 20th November), New Century House, Corporation Street, M60
4ES
Audiologists are at the centre of multidisciplinary working for
people with
hearing and balance impairment.
The British Academy of Audiology (BAA) was founded this year from
the
amalgamation of the associations representing Audiologists, Audiological
Scientists and Hearing Therapists. BAA now represents over 2,000
audiologists who are experts in hearing and balance care.
The Conference in Manchester was the first chance to view BAA as
a new
cohesive organisation and to celebrate the unification of this workforce.
We are delighted to say that this was the biggest conference for
audiological
professionals held in the United Kingdom, with over 600 people participating.
Relevant highlights from programme: The programme included contributions
from the UK, USA , Australasia and Europe. There were specific contributions
from psychologist, Andersson, Psychologist (Sweden), Gans (USA),
and Purdy (New Zealand), surgeons (Ramsden), basic scientists(Summerfield,
Gatehouse), geneticists(Bitner-Glindzicz).
FRIDAY 19TH
BIRMINGHAM: Getting up close and personal with MRSA:
University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust invited patients,
the public and science students to find out about the vital role
of healthcare scientists in hospitals. Patients and the public found
out how healthcare scientists are supporting the fight against MRSA
during a special conference on Friday, November 19th.
Participants discovered exactly how well they wash their hands
with a gel which is illuminated when placed under a ultra-violet
light. There was also a virtual laboratory tour demonstrating the
three day process which takes place when a swab for MRSA is taken.
About 150 students studying science at GCSE or A Level attended
a conference on Thursday, November 18th to find out about the 30
different professions in healthcare science at UHB. The Trust is
offering sponsored training, leading to degree qualifications and
a professional career in healthcare science, without the burden
of accumulating large student debts.
Contact: Jenny.Hudson@uhb.nhs.uk or Pippa.Rimmer@uhb.nhs.uk or
call 0121
627 1627 to find out what happened.
CAMBRIDGE: Addenbrooke's Hospital organised a
'Science Day' at Swavesey Village College, taking lecture time and
presenting demonstrations and experiments to around 300+ students
of varying ages at local area Specialist Science centre. Local pop
radio station, Q103 brought a roadshow to the event for 2 hours;
and Chair of the Trust, Lady Mary Archer (eminent scientist in her
own right) spent 2-3 hours there
also.
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