Job Title
Principal Clinical Biochemist
Where are you based?
Hospital
Is your role clinical or non-clinical?
Clinical
When you were at school, did you want to join the NHS?
I decided to join the NHS because I wanted to combine my love for medical science with a passion for helping people. I wanted a career that I felt proud of, where I could make a difference to the lives of hundreds of patients every single day.
What qualifications did you have when you joined the NHS?
I had just completed my undergraduate degree at University when I joined the NHS.
How did you come to work in the NHS?
I joined by completing a graduate training programme called the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP for short) straight from completing my undergraduate degree. This is a 3 year work-based rotational training scheme with an integrated Masters level degree (MSc Clinical Science), that enables you to work within the NHS as a Senior Clinical Scientist.
Briefly explain your job
As a Clinical Biochemist, it is my role to provide clinical advice on the most appropriate use of testing and provide interpretation for the hundreds of biochemistry tests performed by the laboratory. This is either in the form of written comments that go on all pathology reports, or immediate advice and guidance over the phone or in clinical settings.
The days are varied – which is something I particularly like about my role as no two days are ever the same. In a normal working week, I perform a role called Duty Biochemist 2 days a week. This means I am responsible for reporting all the abnormal result reports and taking all clinical queries for that day. These days are the busiest, but most rewarding days. The rest of my week is split between clinical duties such as attending ward rounds and Multidisciplinary (MDT) meetings, where I meet with other types of clinicians to discuss current patients and laboratory duties such as reviewing laboratory quality data, training more junior staff and driving scientific innovation and improvements.
What do you love about your job?
Being able to apply my scientific and clinical knowledge to real life patient problems and help my clinical colleagues to solve the diagnostic puzzle. We help not only the patients but also the clinicians.
What is challenging about your role?
Our work is often very reactive, we must respond to immediate queries, issues or problems that arise in both the clinical and laboratory setting. This means your work priorities often change at short notice, and your ‘to do’ list for the day can go out of the window before the day has really begun. You need to be flexible, adaptable and able to work well under pressure.
Is there career progression in your role and how would you get there?
Yes, there are graduate training programmes like the one I did and there are apprenticeships where NHS people can study for qualifications whilst working. There are also opportunities for secondment, when you try working in a different role for a while. For example, I’m currently on secondment to NHS England and Improvement – working in the National Office of the Chief Scientific Officer shaping and driving the UK-wide scientific strategy.
What would you say to a young person thinking of joining the NHS?
Follow your passion. There are times when working in the NHS can be very challenging, and it is your core passion that gets you through these times. Make sure whatever role you choose it is something that brings you joy. Never stop learning or pushing for further training for both your personal and professional development.