Peyton’s Lab Tour at Royal Bolton Hospital
Ten year old Peyton has a rare genetic condition, which means she attends hospital regularly for blood tests and occasional overnight stays. While she has often passed the laboratory corridor, she had never had the chance to see what happens behind its doors.
That changed when Bolton NHS Foundation Trust hosted their very first Harvey’s Lab Tour, welcoming Peyton and her parents, Sarah and Ben for the experience. The visit gave Peyton a unique opportunity to see the laboratory up close and helped her family feel more at ease about her care.
The Tour
After being kitted out in her very own lab coat, Peyton’s tour began in specimen reception, where she watched samples arrive through the pneumatic tube system. She then visited the clinical chemistry laboratory, where she saw the different machines in action and even tried her hand at pipetting liquids. In the haematology and blood transfusion labs, she looked at blood under the microscope and discovered how samples are processed and stored.
Peyton listens as a biomedical scientist shows her around the lab.
Peyton takes notes like a Junior Trainee Biomedical Scientist.
Peyton said:
“The tour has really helped me because now I have an understanding of what happens every time I have a blood test. I really enjoyed it from start to finish and it was cool how there were bags of blood in the fridge. I loved seeing how the blood bottles got sealed and being able to look at the cells through the microscope!”
She added:
“My favourite part was being able to mix and make different colours in the safelab and also being able to see the blood and platelets separate.”
At the end of the visit, Peyton was presented with a special Junior Trainee Biomedical Scientist certificate and a Harvey’s Lab Tour goodie bag.
Her mum, Sarah, said:
“To see Peyton so fascinated by all the amazing equipment and facilities in the lab was amazing. The most beneficial part was that Peyton has anxiety around having her bloods done, and I do think doing the Harvey’s Lab Tour will help her understand why she’s having her bloods and be less anxious. I have also learned so much about the journey of a blood test.”
Chris Hall, Biomedical Scientist at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Giving a tour of the Laboratory to Peyton was such a lovely experience, I enjoyed answering her questions and seeing how curious she was about the work we do in the Lab. Peyton needs regular blood tests, so it was great for her to see what happens to her samples, as understandably regular visits can cause some anxiety in younger patients. We’re planning another tour already, so fingers crossed this will be a service we can offer to our younger patients who have regular blood tests.”
Families who are interested in a Harvey’s Lab Tour are encouraged to contact the hospital’s Play Specialists, who work with the lab team to tailor visits to individual needs.
We would like to congratulate the team at Bolton on hosting their first ever Harvey’s Lab Tour. By giving young patients a chance to see behind the scenes, they are helping to build confidence, reduce anxiety and provide a unique glimpse into the care that supports their health.
