Unit 10, P3, M2, D2
Science Industry Technicians
Within the NHS there are many opportunities to become a science technician ranging from
clinical bioinformatics, life sciences, biomedical engineering, physical sciences, and physiological
sciences. However, with this array of opportunities comes requirements such as a 1 st or 2.1 degree in
applied science or a 2.2 honours degree in a relevant subject.
Science technicians working within genomics are able to identify any genetic alterations by
looking at patients’ nucleic acid and seeing if these alterations are the reason for conditions that the
patient holds. Technicians within genomics are also able to tell if there is much likelihood that the
patient can pass such conditions down the generations. All of these roles as a technician within
genomics relies down to chemically examining cellular DNA. There are three big categories within
genomics that come up very often in the working day; prenatal diagnosis to view any possible
anomalies, risk assessments on those who have possibility have inherited disorders, and diagnosis
confirmation from testing.
Genomic science technicians do not have any specific schedule or shift pattern within the NHS that
differs from everyone else. There are rules and regulations in place and for most hospitals there are
day and night staff which end up overlapping so they can take over the new shift swiftly. A shift work
system allows for one job to be covered 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week by rotating the workers
on that position usually on a morning, afternoon, and night shift basis. Night shifts are any hours
worked from 7pm to 7am. The rules and regulations in place for working within the NHS, and
therefore apply to genomic science technicians, are that unless a document has been signed, an
employee should not work over 48 hours within one week. Each employee must also have 11 hours
rest before their next shift starts.
Genomic science technicians are very behind the scenes when it comes to patients. They
have little to no communication with them whatsoever, however, most technicians do understand
the impact their research has on these patients due to most conditions being life changing. Genomic
science technicians therefore have direct contact with their team of doctors, nurses, other
technicians, and counsellors all specialising in genomics.
When the science technicians communicate with doctors and nurses, it is either usually to receive
the patient’s information on what they are being tested for, and to relay the information they have
found through testing back to the doctors and nurses. This information can be done through written
communication of patient’s files and notes being left on these files, or via verbal communication
with the technicians speaking with the doctors or nurses about a patient’s test results and what they
mean. Written communication is necessary within the NHS as it allows this information to be relayed
a lot quicker between departments. If A&E was on the other side of the hospital compared to the
lab, then it would take ridiculous amounts of time travelling back and forth just to relay small
amounts of information. However verbal communication is necessary for patients who might have a
higher risk factor or a more complex case. Therefore, these test results can be rushed, and by the
time to doctors or nurses get to the lab, the technician is able to relay any information, their expert
opinion and if they think it would be best to carry out more tests and why.
When the science technicians communicate with other technicians like themselves, it is usually to
ask for a second opinion. This would nearly always be done through verbal communication as
genomic technicians would be placed into the same laboratory with each other due to their work
being exactly the same and they can all make use of the necessary equipment. Verbal
communication is necessary for technicians to talk to one another as due to each of them having
such a high workload, checking emails or files takes time away. A quick physical overview face-to-
