Biomedical Science Day Reflections

Biomedical Science Day 2026: Celebrating the People Behind the Science

This year marked a special milestone as colleagues across NHS Scotland came together to celebrate 10 years of Biomedical Science Day, showcasing the vital contribution Biomedical Scientists make to patient care every day.

(Image of colleagues at SNBTS Raigmore Hospital, Inverness)

One of the many highlights of this year's celebrations was the continued promotion of Biomedical Science careers through the NHS Scotland Careers website and social media channels. Working alongside colleagues from Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS), including Anne Lockhart and the team, we were delighted to share a fascinating insight into the role of a Biomedical Scientist through the A Day in the Life of a Biomedical Scientist in Blood Transfusion blog. The article provides an excellent overview of the specialist work involved in ensuring patients receive safe and effective transfusion support, helping to raise awareness of an often unseen but essential part of healthcare.

Alongside career promotion activity, Healthcare Science colleagues from PSDS used the opportunity to engage young people and educators through the Super Samples game "Beat the Clock" Challenge. The interactive STEM activity introduces participants to the skills and problem-solving required in laboratory science in a fun and accessible way. We were particularly pleased to see the resource shared with teachers across Scotland through My World of Work and Skills Development Scotland, extending its reach and helping pupils explore the exciting science careers available within the NHS. The Institute of Biomedical Science also supported promotion of the resource, sharing it with members as an accessible online STEM engagement activity.

Across Scotland, Healthcare Science teams enthusiastically supported Biomedical Science Day through local events, laboratory tours, information stands, school/university engagement activities and social media campaigns. Select the following link to access a video on LinkedIn celebrating Biomedical Science Day which was a collaboration between PSDS Healthcare Science and My World of Work, with thanks to Kirstie, a Biomedical Scientist working in Microbiology at NHS GGC for taking part in it: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7468272053515632641.

There was also some friendly competition, with colleagues submitting photographs of their celebrations and engagement activities. Congratulations to those recognised for the best Biomedical Science Day photographs and best event stall displays, which demonstrated the creativity and passion of Biomedical Science teams across NHS Scotland.

(Image from Blood Science colleagues at the Institute of Biomedical Science, Western General Hospital, NHS Lothian)

Why This Matters

Healthcare Science professionals play a crucial role in the care of patients across Scotland. Biomedical Scientists analyse and investigate patient samples using advanced laboratory technologies, providing the accurate and timely results that support diagnosis, treatment decisions and ongoing care. Yet many people remain unaware of the breadth of careers available within Healthcare Science and the impact these professions have on patient outcomes.

Activities such as Biomedical Science Day help shine a spotlight on these rewarding careers, inspire future generations, and demonstrate how science, technology and healthcare come together to improve lives every day.

Get Involved

If you are passionate about inspiring the next generation and promoting Healthcare Science careers, why not join our Healthcare Science Career Engagement Network? The network brings together enthusiastic colleagues from across NHS Scotland who support career events, school engagement activities, resources, social media campaigns and workforce promotion initiatives. Together, we can continue raising awareness of Healthcare Science careers and showcase the incredible work that our professions do to support patients, services and communities across Scotland.

Details about promoting healthcare science careers also available on the Careers page on our website.