University of Gloucestershire is holding an event for anyone interested in a career in healthcare sciences.

The university has teamed up with the NHS to celebrate the work of healthcare scientists and inspire the next generation of healthcare science professionals, as part of Healthcare Science Week 2024.

While healthcare scientists typically make up less than 5% of the health workforce in the UK, they are involved in 80% of patient diagnostic tests and provide a key role in supporting research and innovation, which is a vital part of modern patient care.

Ahead of Healthcare Science Week 2024 (March 11-15), the university's Oxstalls Campus will be the venue for an event led by Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on Saturday March 9 (10am to 2pm), featuring more than 20 stands hosted by healthcare science and allied health experts.

Supported by teams from the university's School of Health and Social Care, the event will include opportunities for visitors to enjoy a new virtual reality experience around healthcare science.

The Healthcare Science Week event is open to anyone in year 9 and above at school, college and university students, teachers and career advisors, as well as parents and carers.

The event is free to attend, and no booking is required.

Tracy Longden-Thurgood, course leader in healthcare science at the university, said: "We're proud to be working with our partners at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to highlight the vital work of healthcare scientists and the positive difference they make to people's lives.

"The event on March 9 will be a fantastic opportunity to explore the vast range of career opportunities within healthcare science, working in laboratories and directly with patients to assess and diagnose disease and illness.

"Members of our School of Health and Social Care are looking forward to sharing their experiences of working within healthcare, as well as providing information about how the university's degree apprenticeship and degree programmes.