As part of our Careers and Aim Higher programme for Sixth Form students, Year 13s have enjoyed a unique learning experience at Durham University Hospital.

The trip gave students the opportunity to explore a range of careers in healthcare and medical science by taking part in hands-on experiences with a gamma scanner, which is used to find the location and size of primary tumors, bone fractures, infections, and to examine the structure of organs like the heart, kidneys, or thyroid gland. They were also able to use and ultrasound machine, which is commonly used to diagnose and treat medical conditions by visualising internal organs; ultrasound is also used to monitor a foetus during pregnancy.

In an additional workshop, the group learned how to prepare samples in the clean room and heard about potential careers in the lab.