Our future doctors, nurses and scientists were inspired during a two-day careers fair at Queen’s Hospital, with almost 1,000 primary and secondary school pupils from across Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge talking to NHS staff about their jobs.

 

Simrat (pictured above left with a friend and members of our Infection Protection Control team in inflatable suits, one of poo and one of bacteria), a year 12 student, came to the event as part of the medicine, dentistry and veterinary group at Beal High School, Ilford. She said: “Today was really insightful. I learned about new things like clinical coding and I got to try out an ultrasound machine, I didn’t think you had to use so much pressure when using it.

“I always wanted to go into the NHS to begin with and become a paediatric nurse.”

 

Daniel (left), a year six pupil at John Perry Primary School, Dagenham, said: “I enjoyed coming to learn new things about hospitals and the NHS and how they help people.

“I learned how to help if there is something in your throat where you breathe, and how to get it out. I want to be a surgeon, it’s interesting to me and it will match my personality.”

Brigita Kurieniute, a teacher at Grafton Primary School in Dagenham, added: “Some of the kids were unsure at first but they’ve absolutely loved it. We’ve already got some of them talking about careers in surgery and anaesthetics.

“For those who aren’t looking to do medicine, they’ve been really interested by other professions, such as communications. There’s been a bit of everything and it’s all so interactive, they really enjoyed themselves.”

 

The careers fair, held from Tuesday 2 to Wednesday 3 July, was part of a series of events, ‘Celebrating BHRUT’, which we’re arranging for our staff and their families, our volunteers and local communities.

The first day of the careers fair was aimed at staff from our Trust, learning more about other departments and how they can enhance their careers.

Adia Kagimu (pictured below, far right, with colleagues Ervis Kaca and Wendy Teng), a sonographer at our Trust, was among those hosting a stall. She said: “We brought along an ultrasound machine for people to try using what we call ‘phantoms’, one which represented a pregnant woman so they could look at the baby inside.

“What was most popular was our ‘guess what’s in the box’ game, where people had to feel and guess the five essential tools for a sonographer, including gel and gloves. It’s been wonderful and everyone has really loved it.”

Our Maternity team gave a unique opportunity at our staff careers fair, the opportunity to experience delivering a baby, using a training model (pictured below).

Ward Clerk Hina Kalil was among those who tried it out. She said: “I just came to look round and didn’t think I’d be delivering a baby!

“It was lots of fun and an experience you wouldn’t get in your average day at work.”

Hina is pictured below after delivering the 'baby'.