Last Wednesday, the Microbiology Laboratory team hosted an emotional final fuddle, with colleagues past and present coming together to celebrate the end of an era. Tomorrow, Tuesday, 22nd September, the team will move to the Centre for Laboratory Medicine (CfLM) in Leeds which will provide all CHFT microbiology laboratory testing. It means that there will be no Microbiology Laboratory service at CRH or HRI.
Bringing the team together was Senior Biomedical Scientist, Zoe Potter. Here is a small snippet of what she shared with the team: "A lot of us have worked in Microbiology together for a number of years and it has been an amazing journey. Our move to Leeds is a new chapter, we're going to have new experiences and learn new skills.
"I have so many people to thank on behalf of us all. Thank you to our consultants and management team, who over the years have given us so much support, guidance and advice, they have been immense for us. The IT team have gone above and beyond for microbiology, doing work that nobody sees. I can't miss out Infection Prevention and Control who have been such a fabulous team to work with.
Reflecting at the event, Zoe said: "All of us in this room now are here because we are all want to do the best for our patients. You are wonderful, amazing and resilient, showing up every single day with enthusiasm. Thank you to colleagues past and present, and those colleagues who are no longer with us. You have bought joy, many laughs and your passion for doing the right thing along the way."
Last year alone, the team processed nearly half a million samples.
Consultant Microbiologist and Pathology Clinical Director, Anu Rajgopal, joined the team in 2007, and hasn't looked back. Anu said: "We can't talk about this lab and this wonderful team without talking about Covid - we were doing over 400 tests a day from 6am until 1.00am, and colleagues were dedicated to making sure our patients and colleagues were kept safe throughout that time.
"What I think I’ll remember most, though, isn’t necessarily the big moments. It’s the everyday things - the personal attention given to IPC outbreaks, the conversations over a cup of coffee, the humour when things were getting tough and the willingness to help our regional infection trainees who have always flagged CHFT as a fab rotation primarily due to lab exposure, and people simply getting on with the job and looking after one another.
"The past few years have been hard, but you’ve continued to provide a fully accredited service whilst managing the significantly increased demand. That’s what makes a team and I’m so proud of you all."
Also at the celebration were colleagues who have retired from Microbiology after working in the team for decades, coming back to share their fond memories and reconnect with colleagues. Including Dr Isobel Burnett and Senior Biomedical Scientist, Jennifer (both pictured).
Deputy Chief Executive, Jonny Hammond, also attended the celebration and told the team: "It is really impressive how you have maintained such a strong team. We talk a lot about One Culture of Care in the organisation, and what we see here today is how much you look after and look out for each other.
"It says a lot when you see people here today who have been retired for all those years, and to come back and want to be part of this celebration event. Hold on to what makes you great as a team and take that into Leeds - it will stand you in really good stead."
