Publish date: 28 March 2025
Industry innovations and workforce transformations lead to triple success for Northumbria Healthcare
Innovations in transporting blood products and diversifying the workforce by introducing apprenticeship schemes has resulted in the pathology team at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust being recognised at the 2025 North East and Yorkshire Healthcare Science Awards.
The awards acknowledge teams and individuals that are actively working to advance healthcare sciences to positively impact both patient and staff experience.
Jonathan Boxshall, Pathology Quality Manager, won the ‘Innovation Excellence’ award on behalf of the groundbreaking pathology drones project which has transformed the way blood products are transported across the region.
Working in collaboration with NHS Blood and Transport and private partner Apian, the team carried out rigorous testing of blood products to ensure no significant difference in quality when compared to transport by road.
The pilot program involved 194 drone flights over a three-month period to validate the service’s reliability and safety.
Speaking about the award win, Jonathan said: “Within healthcare, there is a critical need for timely blood delivery and using drones is an innovation that could see improved resource allocation and faster response times. It’s fantastic to see this project recognised for advancing technology in healthcare and ultimately patient care. I’m proud of the whole team who have worked tirelessly to achieve great results that we can build on moving forward.”
Receiving runner-up for the ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ award was Nicola Norman on behalf of the Pathology Education and Training Team for their widening participation work to introduce the pathology apprenticeship programme. This has resulted in removing barriers to entry to biomedical science careers and helped tackle recruitment issues and skills shortages.
The apprenticeship programme offers two different pathways for people who can’t access university education and those from non-traditional backgrounds.
This aligns with the trust’s Community Promise which pledges to support communities with opportunities through five key pillars, including education and employment.
To top off the success, Debra Padgett, Clinical Pathology Lead and lead healthcare scientist, has been awarded a prestigious Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Pathologists for her outstanding contributions to pathology and biomedical science.
Throughout her career and as former Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) President, Debra has been a strong advocate for the vital role of biomedical scientists in healthcare, working to raise awareness of their contributions and strengthen collaboration across NHS departments. Her leadership has played a key role in supporting workforce development and ensuring biomedical science continues to evolve to meet the needs of modern healthcare.
Speaking about her recognition, Debra said: "I am truly honoured to receive this award and proud of the impact I have made in this profession. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with incredible teams whose dedication has driven my passion for biomedical science. Their support has been instrumental in advancing our profession and ensuring it remains at the heart of high-quality healthcare delivery."
Media contact
Louise Alexander, social media and digital assistant
Louise.Alexander@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk