IBMS #AtTheHeartOfHealthcare

Congratulations to Byron Lo from Royal Surrey County Hospital and Tilly Jones from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust on passing their IBMS Registration Portfolios, and to Kelvin Baffour Ankrah from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust for passing his Specialist Portfolio. A significant achievement and a key milestone in their journey as biomedical scientists. 🧪🔬 Well done – the future of biomedical science is in excellent hands! 👏 If you've passed your IBMS Portfolio recently, get in touch by emailing [email protected]

Biomedical scientists are eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa, but their going rate isn't linked to NHS pay bands. We're asking for Agenda for Change rates for HCPC-registered biomedical scientists working in NHS services. We're also asking for HCPC-registered biomedical scientists to be included in the five-year public service settlement pathway. The Earned Settlement framework isn't yet in force, and the occupation list alone doesn't determine individual eligibility. Members have raised these concerns with us. Help make the case to ministers: use our MP template, add your own experience and send it to your MP. ibms.org/resource/support-ou…

A recent investigation by Which? has raised concerns about the reliability of vitamin D self-test kits sold on the high street. When five different kits were used by someone with normal vitamin D levels, they produced three different results, raising questions about their accuracy and suitability for making health decisions. The Royal College of Pathologists has supported the findings, highlighting the rigorous procedures and quality control involved in laboratory blood testing that cannot be replicated by a simple finger-prick test at home. The College has also welcomed plans for the MHRA to assess the evidence underpinning these tests. Read the full response: bit.ly/4z3N0Ns

National Pathology Week (NPW) is the annual celebration of pathology and its importance in healthcare. The theme for 2026 is 'Welcome to the Lab ', and the Pathology Alliance are delivering a series of 13 online events that extend through the whole of November. As part of NPW, we will be hosting a webinar called Discover a career in biomedical science on 24 November. This interactive webinar explores what biomedical scientists do, where they work and how you can become one. You can register for it here: bit.ly/4ed6QOC

Join us for a free IBMS Quality SAP webinar, The Value of Pathology: Demonstrating Impact on Patient Outcomes, on Thursday, 5 November at 1 pm. Jonathan Boxshall will discuss the importance of demonstrating how pathology services contribute to patient care. Register for free: bit.ly/48nriJ7

Our next Training for Trainers: Verifiers event will take place on 12th November at 9am. It will provide information on the updated registration training portfolio (V5) and how to use OneFile. Register here: bit.ly/3Vg8fgN

For the Haematology team at Sheffield Children's Hospital, Harvey's Lab Tours have brought a new perspective to their work. Since introducing the programme in 2025, the team has introduced young patients and their families to the laboratory, giving them a better understanding of what happens to their blood samples. For the biomedical scientists involved, it's also been a chance to meet some of the children whose samples they regularly process. In our latest Staff Spotlight, Haematology Service Lead Sallyann Ridsdale discusses the team's experiences, the challenges they've overcome and her advice for other laboratories interested in getting involved. Read the full interview: bit.ly/4zh33rv

🎃 Spooky season at the blood bank 🩸 Request received by bat. 🦇 Request declined. 🔴 Count now sulking in his coffin. ⚰️🧛 Happy Halloween to every biomedical scientist guarding the O neg this weekend. 👻🕯️ #FridayFun #LabLife #BiomedicalScience #Halloween

In this month's My Lab, we visit Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to explore how automation is helping its biochemistry team deliver faster results and better patient care. With routine turnaround times cut by 63%, staff have more time to focus on quality improvement and supporting clinical colleagues. Read more: thebiomedicalscientist.net/2…

How can laboratories make their practices more sustainable? Join the IBMS Support Hubs for Greener Labs: Sustainable Practices in Pathology, a free webinar with Dr Rob Shorten, Consultant Clinical Scientist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Rob will discuss how small changes in laboratories can make a meaningful difference to sustainability. 📅 11th November 2026 🕛 12pm -1pm 💻 Online via Microsoft Teams Book your place: bit.ly/4joqx9D

A career in biomedical science doesn't always follow a conventional path. Before becoming a biomedical scientist, Jean Wilson began her working life as a hairdresser, later returning to education as a mature student. Now, with more than 20 years of experience in the profession, she's passionate about challenging stereotypes and helping young people recognise that a career in science could be within their reach. In the final instalment of our Black History Month series, Jean reflects on the importance of making biomedical science more visible and opening doors for the next generation. “There is potential in every community, and a person's background or postcode should not determine whether they have the opportunity to learn about biomedical science.” Read Jean's story: bit.ly/4A5L1Jr

Could understanding our genetic makeup help improve cancer prevention and diagnosis? Advances in genetic research are helping scientists better understand why some people are more susceptible to certain cancers than others. For biomedical scientists, these discoveries highlight the importance of genetics and molecular diagnostics in identifying cancer risk, enabling earlier detection, and informing personalised treatment approaches. Read the latest article from The Biomedical Scientist exploring how our genetic makeup influences cancer risk and what this could mean for the future of healthcare. bit.ly/4zbEzk5

Artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities for medical laboratories, but its adoption also brings important considerations for quality, safety and patient care. In the latest article from The Biomedical Scientist, Scott Maleney and Sally Wood from UKAS examine how accreditation is adapting to developments in AI and what this means for laboratory professionals. The article explores the importance of robust validation, clear accountability and effective risk management, as well as the challenges of introducing AI into accredited laboratory services. 🔗 Read the full article: bit.ly/4e4zxgI

The encouragement of a mentor can have a lasting impact on someone's career. For #NationalMentoringDay, we're revisiting Andrew Osei-Bimpong's reflections on the people who helped shape his journey in biomedical science, and how their support inspired him to mentor others. Having benefited from the guidance of colleagues throughout his career, Andrew has gone on to support around 12 Black biomedical scientists into senior and leadership positions. 💬 Who has made a difference to your career? Read Andrew's story: ibms.org/resource/honouring-…

Join us for a free IBMS Quality SAP webinar, The Value of Pathology: Demonstrating Impact on Patient Outcomes, on Thursday, 5 November at 1 pm. Jonathan Boxshall will discuss the importance of demonstrating how pathology services contribute to patient care. Register for free: bit.ly/48nriJ7

Promising new research could bring personalised cancer vaccines a step closer to clinical use. A major clinical trial has found that an experimental mRNA vaccine, developed using genetic information from patients' tumours, reduced the combined risk of melanoma returning or death by 42% when given alongside immunotherapy. The findings highlight the growing potential of personalised medicine and the important role of molecular diagnostics in developing treatments tailored to individual patients. While further research is needed, the results represent an encouraging development in cancer treatment. Read more via BBC News: bbc.in/4BwWd3i

New research could pave the way for more effective flu vaccines. Researchers have identified a population of long-lasting immune cells in the lungs that could play an important role in maintaining protection against influenza. The findings challenge existing understanding of immune memory and could help inform the development of future vaccines. Read more in The Biomedical Scientist: bit.ly/4zKDSxJ

🔬 A little curiosity, a lot of expertise and a very well-trained eyebrow raise. 🤨✨ Happy Friday to the biomedical scientists who love a good laboratory mystery. 🧩🧪😎 #FridayFun #BiomedicalScience

Congratulations to Zenat Rafiq and Kelly Fitton from Royal Blackburn Hospital, Angela Wickramasekara from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Mohammed Ahmed and Hannah Grice from NHSBT Birmingham on passing their IBMS Registration Portfolios and to Moud Gona from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for passing her IBMS Specialist portfolio. A significant achievement and a key milestone in their journey as biomedical scientists. 🧪🔬 Well done – the future of biomedical science is in excellent hands! 👏 If you've passed your IBMS Portfolio recently, get in touch by emailing [email protected]