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Publish date: 6 July 2026
A young patient has become the first to experience a Harvey's Lab Tour at St Mary's Hospital - an interactive programme designed to help children understand the science behind their diagnosis and treatment.
The Blood Sciences team at Isle of Wight NHS Trust recently welcomed Deezul, together with his Mum and Aunty, for the hospital's first Harvey's Lab Tour. The experience gives young patients the opportunity to explore the laboratory, meet the biomedical scientists and laboratory staff behind the scenes, and discover what happens to their samples after they are taken.
During the tour, Deezul followed the journey of a blood sample through the laboratory, from booking it into the computer system to seeing how it is analysed. Wearing his very own Harvey's Lab Tours lab coat, he took part in a range of hands-on activities, including experimenting with colour-changing chemicals, examining a blood film under a microscope, and carrying out blood grouping.
The tours aim to help reduce anxiety by giving children and their families a better understanding of the tests they may undergo, and the important role laboratory teams play in supporting patient care.
Keegan Brown, Medical Laboratory Assistant in Blood Sciences at Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said, "It was a fantastic start to Harvey's Lab Tours in Blood Sciences. It was wonderful to show Deezul and his family the science behind diagnosis and the important work carried out by our laboratory teams every day. We hope these tours help make hospital experiences less daunting for children while inspiring curiosity about biomedical science. This is the start of something really exciting, and we look forward to welcoming many more young people in the future."
Harvey's Lab Tours are part of a national initiative that gives children a unique insight into pathology services through interactive activities and hands-on learning, helping them to better understand their care and feel more confident about their hospital experience.
Healthcare professionals who feel a patient may benefit from a Harvey's Lab Tour can contact the Blood Transfusion Team: iownt.
