Six-year-old patient has behind-the-scenes lab tour at the Leicester Royal Infirmary

A six-year-old patient has had a behind-the-scenes lab tour at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is running tours to help young patients understand what happens behind the scenes by inviting them on laboratory tours, allowing them to see the inner workings of the hospital.

Six-year-old Rocco was invited to he blood transfusion laboratory to help understand his condition and see the laboratory process.

He has a bone marrow disorder, which means Rocco regularly attends the LRI for blood transfusions.

Rocco's mum Vicky, said: “We really enjoyed the visit to the labs and found it informative. It’s a really nice way of teaching young patients about what happens to their blood and how it all works behind the scenes. I would recommend it to any parent who has a child undergoing treatment as it is a great way to understand more about your child’s care.”

During the visit, Rocco saw how a rapid blood group test is carried out, the blood group analysers, which are used to test samples, and the blood fridges, where blood is stored.

This was important to Rocco and his family as they were able to see where the blood comes from for his regular transfusions.

Shazia Ismail, Senior Biomedical Scientist at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, helped to organise and facilitate the visit. She said: “These tours really help children who are regular patients to understand how their samples are tested and processed. It also helps them to overcome their fear of coming to the hospital and creates a more friendly environment. As biomedical scientists, we enjoy being able to promote and share the importance of our work and our involvement in patient care."

The blood transfusion team at UHL tests around 2,000 samples every week across the Trust and provide around 400 blood products every day across all three sites.

The laboratory tour took place on as part of the ‘Harvey’s Lab Tours’ – a unique programme run by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS). It allows children to step inside hospital labs, see how important tests are carried out, and learn about the amazing work of scientists and laboratory staff. The programme helps young patients feel less anxious about medical tests by showing them exactly what happens to their samples after they visit the hospital.

Families who are interested in a lab tour can reach out to their hospital specialist, who will help facilitate visits and ensure it is tailored appropriately to their individual needs. Find out more at the Harvey’s Lab Tour website.