Every year as much of the country winds down for the festive season, teams across the NHS are making plans to ensure that healthcare keeps running. One such team is our Rare and Inherited Disease Laboratory, based at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, who work to deliver genetic tests to patients across the country.

Genomic testing is becoming a vital part of many healthcare journeys including urgent tests to determine accurate cancer treatment plans, diagnosing prenatal conditions and screening for potential life-threatening drug reactions. These rapid and urgent tests need to be carried out all year round.

That means many of the labs within the Genomic Medicine Service work tirelessly to ensure test results are returned to patients and their families as soon as possible, and the festive season is no different.

The lab team adjust their schedules in the run-up to Christmas, sometimes working extra weekend shifts, to prepare the lab for a two-day bank holiday shut down. The team then come back together after Boxing Day to pick up where they left off.

This extra effort from the teams ensures that all urgent and priority tests are returned as planned, with lab technologists working to process the tests and clinical scientists analysing data.

Bringing the festive spirit to the team

Working during the festive period can be different for many staff, but the group work hard to ensure they’re bringing festive joy right to the labs!

From Christmas jumper days to festive bake-offs and a constant appearance of festive goodies in the staff kitchen! This year the team’s festive lunch went ‘on safari’, spreading their favourite festive foods from around the world in meeting rooms across 3 floors. As groups moved from room to room, the stairs became awash with celebratory “Merry Christmas” shout outs!

We wanted to extend a huge thank you to all of the team and staff that work over this festive period to ensure patients and families get the healthcare they need.