Where it all began
In 2013, Malcolm Robinson, a biomedical scientist in blood transfusion at Western Sussex NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust, was asked to give a tour of his laboratory to seven year old Harvey Baldwin. Harvey, receiving treatment for leukaemia at Worthing Hospital, was curious to know exactly what happened to his blood samples.
Malcolm arranged a special visit, presenting Harvey with his very own lab coat and naming him ‘Trainee Scientist’. Harvey explored the lab’s equipment, asked questions to the the staff, and even got to watch his own blood sample being processed. The visit gave Harvey and his parents a clearer understanding of his care, and it made a lasting impression on the lab team. Many of them had never met a patient whose samples they handled so often.
In Harvey’s memory
Inspired by Harvey’s curiosity, Malcolm began arranging similar visits for other children. The initiative was originally known as Harvey’s Gang, and by 2018, 40 laboratories across the UK were offering tours. By the end of 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, that number had grown to around 100 sites.
Hundreds of young patients had now stepped into the lab, met the scientists behind the scenes, and watched their own samples being analysed. Each visit ends the same way, with children receiving a goody bag, a certificate of attendance, and, of course, their very own lab coat to take home.
These tours have become valuable not just for the children and their families, but also for hospital staff. They help strengthen relationships between pathology and the wards, improve communication with patients and parents, and bring teams closer together.
New beginnings
In April 2023, as Malcolm retired and the charity was dissolved, the trustees entrusted the IBMS to carry Harvey’s legacy forward.
As the new custodians, we are committed to expanding access to these tours so more children (and more IBMS members) can benefit. In 2024, In 2024, the initiative was renamed Harvey’s Lab Tours and given a refreshed logo, designed to reflect its core purpose and bring clarity and positivity to the children and families we support.