Young people enjoy medical lab tours

FOUR youngsters have been behind the scenes at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary to see what happens in the medical laboratories. The special tours were organised for the super scientists of the future by the Harvey’s Lab Tours initiative. Getting the special treatment were eight-year-old Amelia-Jane Houston and Briana McKinnel from Lockerbie; Mason Gordon, 14, from Kirkcudbright; and Larsson Lynn, 17, from Holywood. They are all under the care of NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s Paediatric Department and got to follow the journey of their blood samples.

Biomedical scientist Gayle Johnstone said: “We spotted all the lab equipment playing lab eye spy, spotted neutrophil emojis down the microscope, kept platelets moving and made unique ‘blood’ samples to pop on our Cobas analyser to be aliquoted. “We had so much fun and many laughs were had. “It was great to see the children relax and understand why it’s important to get your bloods taken. “Harvey’s Lab Tours are about empowering the young patients by giving them the knowledge and control to take forward to future appointments.”