Sharing member voices - Rowan Henry
Having graduated with an IBMS accredited Biomedical Science degree at Cardiff Metropolitan University, I completed the IBMS Registration Portfolio in Biochemistry in North Bristol where I’m from in 2018. Soon after, I made the move to North London for an exciting opportunity within POCT as a Biomedical Scientist.
Just at the end of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic I interviewed for a Senior Biomedical Scientist position within the Berkshire & Surrey Pathology Services (BSPS) POCT network, and a year later I am now the Deputy Manager to the POCT COVID-19 testing service across 5 hospital sites.
In my role I enjoy the fact that I get to leave the pathology laboratory and visit other departments on site, particularly the Emergency Departments where the POCT COVID-19 testing hot labs are situated.
As a Biomedical Scientist working in this service, I have really appreciated being able to be part of the decision making made by frontline patient-facing staff, all of whom I have full admiration for.
I reflect on the fact I always encounter BAME members of staff in all job roles, from the top down within Secondary Care, and value the importance that can have on patients. I am encouraged that I see more and more BAME my own age (under 30) on wards, in the laboratory, at meetings, at conferences and in healthcare education forums.
I would always want to encourage BAME colleagues to push themselves forward in the NHS. Not in a capacity of a ‘take over’, but as a simple statement of showing that they are the right candidate to be offered an interview, the right candidate for a training course or the right candidate for a secondment.
Something I have always been conscious of is how language and communication barriers play a part in social stereotyping - where frustration can peak and unfair opinions form about a colleague, and how something like a colleague having a ‘hard to pronounce name’ could bring out shameful attitudes. That is not acceptable.
I was lucky enough to have amazing encouragement in my home, education and working life and that has brought me to where I am now. Not everyone has that. The racism that made itself known recently in the summer following the football outcome resonated with me, and made me really aware of who around me could secretly share these views.
Just at the end of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic I interviewed for a Senior Biomedical Scientist position within the Berkshire & Surrey Pathology Services (BSPS) POCT network, and a year later I am now the Deputy Manager to the POCT COVID-19 testing service across 5 hospital sites.
In my role I enjoy the fact that I get to leave the pathology laboratory and visit other departments on site, particularly the Emergency Departments where the POCT COVID-19 testing hot labs are situated.
As a Biomedical Scientist working in this service, I have really appreciated being able to be part of the decision making made by frontline patient-facing staff, all of whom I have full admiration for.
I reflect on the fact I always encounter BAME members of staff in all job roles, from the top down within Secondary Care, and value the importance that can have on patients. I am encouraged that I see more and more BAME my own age (under 30) on wards, in the laboratory, at meetings, at conferences and in healthcare education forums.
I would always want to encourage BAME colleagues to push themselves forward in the NHS. Not in a capacity of a ‘take over’, but as a simple statement of showing that they are the right candidate to be offered an interview, the right candidate for a training course or the right candidate for a secondment.
Something I have always been conscious of is how language and communication barriers play a part in social stereotyping - where frustration can peak and unfair opinions form about a colleague, and how something like a colleague having a ‘hard to pronounce name’ could bring out shameful attitudes. That is not acceptable.
I was lucky enough to have amazing encouragement in my home, education and working life and that has brought me to where I am now. Not everyone has that. The racism that made itself known recently in the summer following the football outcome resonated with me, and made me really aware of who around me could secretly share these views.
In June this year I was really fortunate to be awarded the Trust StarCard for my dedication to the POCT service. During Black History month I am extremely proud to be a BAME member of the team, the Trust, the Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services network, the IBMS and the NHS.
