IBMS Members recognised in Healthcare Science Awards

Pictured above are Dr Matthew Smith, Brendan O’Sullivan, Claire Swift MIBMS and Frances Hughes CSci FIBMS.

Frances Hughes, and Claire Swift, both Senior Biomedical Scientists in Molecular Pathology are part of the team at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS FT who won the award for Improving Quality and Efficiency through Workforce Transformation, for their work on the Molecular Pathology Diagnostic Service.

Their work was recognised for its unique selling point - it has molecular diagnostics embedded in pathology, or a ‘one stop laboratory shop’. It has a stellar reputation in tumour diagnostics undertaking advanced molecule diagnostics for over 60 hospitals.

The service has been developed by Molecular Pathology Operations Manager, Brendan O’Sullivan who says there are three things that have been a key to its success. First, employing staff members with a range of different advanced skills, second the input of the business unit at the Trust which has been essential to financing development and lastly constant horizon scanning and contacts with industry so they can spot upcoming technologies and get ahead of the curve.

Brendan was also keen to stress that this is not a technology led service, it’s a service delivery led one, headed by a clinician. Above all Brendan praises the contribution of staff who he says consistently function above and beyond expectation.

IBMS congratulates the winners on their outstanding achievements.