Healthcare science staff use a range of science, engineering, and technology skills to prevent, diagnose and treat a range of medical conditions. From laboratories to working directly with patients, our scientists assess and diagnose disease and illness and help patients live independent and fulfilling lives and our data and technology experts improve systems that benefit patients.
This week (13 to 19 March) is Healthcare Science Week and brings together over 50 scientific specialisms to celebrate their outstanding work and raise awareness of this diverse workforce.
We’re proud to have a range of these specialities at University Hospitals Sussex, in everything from audiology, pathology and clinical engineering to microbiology, immunology and cardiac science.
Healthcare scientists are a group that in most cases operate behind the scenes, often in our labs and clinics, going unseen by many who visit our hospitals, but they work across all divisions in all of our hospitals.
For our patients, it’s not just doctors and nurses involved in their care, in many cases a healthcare scientist has played a part in the patient journey, despite not ever seeing them face-to-face.
This diverse group of colleagues perform critical tasks and responsibilities which aid patients across Sussex, with their work underpinning 80% of all diagnoses.
The scientific backbone of the NHS, these healthcare scientists deliver high quality, evidence-based scientific services, and for whose expertise we depend on.
Take a look at just some of our brilliant healthcare science specialties at UHSussex whose contribution is crucial to delivering excellent patient care.
Clinical Engineering
Our team of clinical engineers, based at our four acute hospitals, look after around 30,000 medical devices used for both direct and indirect patient care. This high-end equipment is valued at approximately £150 million. Receiving on average around 8,000 repair calls a year, this dedicated team are responsible for managing and implementing medical technology to optimise the care you receive.
Cellular Pathology
In this specialty, our team look at organ, tissue and cell samples from small biopsies taken from endoscopes, breast mastectomies, placentas, to full bowel resections, post-mortems and many others, to determine whether cancer or other disease is present.
Last year, the department at two of our hospitals received almost 35,000 patient cases, each case containing from one to 10 samples – that’s potentially 350,000 samples!
Our team of biomedical scientists, medical laboratory assistants and associate practitioners, assist with analysing these samples to determine the causes of certain diseases, the effects that they are having on the body and help decide which treatment is appropriate.
Reconstructive Science
Our Reconstructive Scientists rehabilitate patients who have lost part of their face due to trauma, cancer, or congenital defects by designing and making small prosthetic body parts such as noses, eyes and ears, aiming to help restore their confidence.
Within this specialty, they see patients from the start of their journey, from before the removal of a cancerous body part, all the way through to the fitting of a prosthesis.
At UHSussex, we have a range of positions within healthcare science. Explore these roles and find out more information about a career in a field that offers many opportunities for continuing your professional development and learning.