Kale's Lab Tour
In March, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust were proud to make their Harvey’s Lab Tour debut, welcoming young visitors into the Pathology labs for the very first time. The tour gave eleven year old Kale, his brother Reece, and their mum Tina a special chance to step behind the scenes and learn how hospital laboratories support children like Kale every day.
Bringing the lab to life
The Pathology Centre and Paediatrics department worked together to provide a fun and interactive tour. Kale, who visits the hospital regularly for blood tests, and Reece, who hopes to become a lab scientist one day, were shown around key departments by the friendly team.
Their visit kicked off in Biochemistry, where they got up close with the lab’s powerhouse machines; hard at work processing over 5,000 patient samples daily from Gateshead, South Tyneside, and Sunderland. Over in Haematology, things got even more exciting as they peeked through microscopes to examine blood cells. The highlight was spotting a blood cell that looked just like Mickey Mouse!
The tour also included visits to Microbiology and Cellular Pathology, where they saw how scientists investigate infections and study cells to help doctors diagnose and treat patients.
Making an impact
Reece left the lab feeling inspired, and excited about the future:
“It has been exciting and made me think more about doing this work when I am older.”
Tina, their mum, added,
“I think it is a brilliant idea and shows children what happens to their blood samples when they visit the hospital. It has been a brilliant morning and exciting to learn about.”
This special day marked the first time Gateshead Health has welcomed young visitors into its high-tech Pathology labs. Thanks to the success of the tour, plans are already in place to offer more Harvey’s Lab Tours during each half-term holiday.
Michelle Thomas, Paediatric Senior Sister, said,
“We are always keen to improve children’s hospital experiences and we’re really eager to develop this further.”
The bigger picture
Across the UK, Harvey’s Lab Tours are making a real impact. By showing young patients what happens to their samples and introducing them to biomedical science, we are helping children feel more confident and informed during their healthcare journey. For some like Reece, it also sparks an early passion for science and the vital role laboratories play in patient care.
We are proud to welcome Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust to the growing community of hospitals delivering Harvey’s Lab Tours and helping children and families feel more at ease when visiting the hospital.