Biochemist David Andrews was determined to finally get to work in a new ‘superlab’ before calling time on his long and enjoyable career with University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB).

And that wish has now been granted following the transfer of biochemistry services from the Selly Oak Hospital site to the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB).

David, who has been with the Trust for 39 years, was the longest serving member of staff who completed the transfer from Selly Oak to QEHB in the spring.

But he will only have a few months to enjoy the fabulous new facilities and equipment within the large, open-spaced laboratory in QEHB before he retires.

David, who is due to leave the Trust when he reaches 65 in September, said: “It was always an ambition of mine to move into the new labs before I retired.

“I always planned to go when I was 65, but it is really good to finally see it. It always seemed likely from the first stages of planning around 10 years ago, but for a while it didn’t look as though I would make it as we got closer to the date.”

David joined UHB as a basic grade biochemist in 1973 before eventually becoming Principal Clinical Biochemist. He came straight to the Trust after graduating from Durham University with a First Degree in Chemistry, followed by a PhD in Organic Chemistry.

“In those days, you didn’t really have specialist first degree courses in medical biochemistry, but towards the end of my first degree in chemistry at Durham, I was offered a place on a two-year clinical biochemistry MSc course at the University of Birmingham, with a placement at the old Dudley Guest Hospital. But when I got my First at Durham, I decided to stay on to do my PhD there.”

David, who comes from Birmingham, then successfully applied for the job at Selly Oak Hospital in 1973, whilst still writing up his PhD thesis. He subsequently obtained career-specific professional qualifications including FRCPath.

“The work particularly involves the chemical and biochemical analysis of blood and other body fluids to help in the diagnosis and management of disease, for example around the areas of kidney, liver and endocrine function. Apart from production, validation and interpretation of results, in those days I also had a considerable role in research and development in clinical biochemistry, and in the evaluation of new methods and equipment.

“The job has changed over the years, particularly as a result of automation and IT. Many of the tests were done manually in small batches in classical glass test tubes, but now the new laboratory is choc-a-bloc with highly complex machinery. And the number of requests we get has rocketed many-fold over the years.”

David, who also has responsibility for IT services within biochemistry, has been looking forward to new labs for years.

“Just after I started in 1973 I was told there was going to be a new lab at Selly Oak, but nothing ever happened. Then, in the late 80s, people first started talking about a new superhospital.

“The biochemistry lab at Selly Oak was over 70 years old with many small rooms not suited to modern trends in laboratory automation, which require tracking and large spaces for efficient operation. We were also very isolated in the last few months at Selly Oak. It still feels a bit strange in the new lab at QEHB particularly because it is a very different design concept, but it is good to be here, even if it’s only for a few months!”