Personal Details
Catherine Weir
151, Bingley Court,
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 2SX
E-mail: catherine.weir@ymail.com
Date of birth 24/3/1977
Education History
University of the West of Post Graduate Diploma
England 1999-2002 in Medical Microbiology Pass
August 1998 RSA Certificate in Computer Literacy
and Information Technology (Stage 1) Distinction
University of Sunderland BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology 2:2
1995-1998
Scarborough 6th Form College Chemistry C
September 1993 – June 1995 Biology D
A levels Psychology E
General Studies D
St. Augustine’s School Ten GCSE’s including
Scarborough Science, English and
September 1988 – June 1993 Maths at C and above.
Short courses completed
Practical Introduction to Transfusion NBS Manchester 2008
Science (1 week)
Blood Sciences Short Course University of Westminster 2014
(4 days over 6 weeks)
Employment History
Kent & Canterbury Hospital Band 5 Biomedical Scientist
Canterbury working in Haematology, Transfusion & Biochemistry
18 August 2014 to present including full participation in the shift rota.
Maidstone Hospital Band 6 Biomedical Scientist
Maidstone working in Haematology & Transfusion.
November 2013 to August 2014
Royal Hampshire County Band 6 Biomedical Scientist
Winchester working in Haematology & Transfusion.
4 March 2013 to November 2013
BMI Chaucer Hospital/TDL Biomedical Scientist (Band 6 equivalent)
Canterbury working in a multi-disciplinary laboratory, specialising in
February 2008 to 21 February Microbiology (until June 2011) & working in Transfusion,
2013 Haematology & Biochemistry, including on-call & weekends.
Additional duties: CPD Officer – which involved; obtaining journal articles for journal based learning exercises, organising training exercises & presentations, & assisting colleagues with their CPD portfolios.
Scarborough Hospital Band 6 Biomedical Scientist
Microbiology Department working in Microbiology, initially as a Medical Laboratory
January 1999 to 30 January Assistant, then as a trainee Biomedical Scientist before
2008 becoming State Registered in 2002 following completion of my Post Graduate Diploma.
Skills and Interests:
I have had 5 years’ experience of working in a small multi-disciplinary laboratory in the private sector, and currently work in a busy Haematology & Transfusion Department in an NHS hospital.
I am aware of the importance of supporting my colleagues in the work place, which helps in the efficient delivery of the service. I regard myself as competent in communicating with colleagues and medical staff within my professional role. I value the challenge of being encouraged to use my own initiative, and have a keen sense of attention to detail and in my ability to concentrate on a given task.
Despite the fact that I have a background in Microbiology, I have been able to broaden my skills to include Blood Sciences (Transfusion, Haematology & Biochemistry) & have worked within this role at the Chaucer Hospital and within my current job. An integral part of my personal & professional development has included becoming competent with working in a multi-disciplinary laboratory including on-call, shift and weekend working. I have continued to develop my skills and experience in blood sciences at both the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester & Maidstone Hospital as well as within my current role in the Pathology Laboratory at the Kent & Canterbury Hospital in Canterbury.
I have been a member of the Territorial Army (TA)/Army Reserve since 2003, which has enabled me to gain valuable teamwork skills by working in a small but focused group as part of 306 Hospital Support Medical Regiment (V). I have also gained organisational skills within both my professional and military roles and feel that I am good at time management and working to set deadlines.
I have also completed some multi-discipline training as part of my role as a Biomedical Scientist within the military, which included the Pre-Deployment Training for Biomedical Scientists (June 2006) and the Blood Donation, Storage & Supply Course (BDSS) (June 2007). I was also involved in a hospital training exercise – Exercise Rosedale – with 201 (Northern) Field Hospital before their deployment to Afghanistan.
I have previously delivered four presentations to the local NHS Hospitals in Scarborough, York and Canterbury on being a BMS in the military. I have regularly attended the IBMS conference with the Army Medical Services Recruiting Team, and participated in Open Days at Strensall Barracks. This gave me the opportunity to show people around the Hospital Exercise, and enabled me to make contact with the Biomedical Scientists working in the laboratory. Along with regular attendance of the Military BMS Conference, this enabled me to remain up to date with developments in methodology, and any new developments in laboratory protocol.
At the end of 2011 I was involved in the successful validation of the High Readiness Field Hospital with a regular unit – 33 Field Hospital – prior to them taking on this responsibility at the beginning 2012. This involved working in a multi-disciplinary laboratory as part of both a paperwork and practical Hospital Exercise.
Since leaving the Army Reserve in June 2015 I have become an active member of the Royal British Legion and have supported fellow veterans with attending Remembrance Sunday Services, fundraising and attended the Annual RAMC Carol Concert in 2015. I am currently involved in helping to organise the Poppy Ball for next March, to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War 1. I am planning to assist with membership and recruitment in the future.
In my spare time I am also a member of the Maidstone Mountaineering Club and Jelly Legs Running Club, enjoy swimming and play the clarinet. I also regularly participate in World War 2 re-enactment events with my fiancé and members of a re-enacting group.
References available on request.