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A biomedical scientist based at the Northern General Hospital has won a prestigious award from the Science Council for continuing to meet high professional standards in her practice.

Daisy Shale, who has a background in clinical chemistry, received the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) award in recognition of the exemplary standards she has set as a senior medical examiner’s officer.

The Medical Examiner's Office provides an independent review of an individual’s final illness, taking into account presentation, diagnosis, treatment and provision of care, with involvement from the attending clinical team and the family. This ensures any issues or errors are appropriately investigated and that the family has the opportunity to discuss the cause of death and raise questions to someone independent.

As part of her role, Daisy is required to maintain her status as a chartered scientist from the Science Council, who set standards in the profession to ensure a quality assurance system is delivered. This involves undergoing a rigorous assessment and audit process of continuing professional development actives undertaken by the individual. Daisy ensures she meets the requirements by undertaking a variety of different learning, including laboratory visits to evidence continuing professional development activities, assessing and assisting other hospitals with their mortality review work and visiting other wards and departments to gain a wider view of healthcare practice. Daisy used this learning to demonstrate how her continuing professional development had contributed to the quality of her practice and how it had benefited people and clinicians accessing the Medical Examiner's Office.

Speaking about the award, Daisy Shale, senior medical examiner’s officer for the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I'm really proud to have maintained my chartered scientist status and to be recognised for the work and standards I have developed on a daily basis.

“Taking ownership for my continuing professional development and my personal development has made me realise that there is always something new to learn and that you can’t develop professionally if you don’t develop personally. Having a standard of Chartered scientist to work towards ensures that I constantly aim to be the best I can be.”

The Science Council’s annual Continuing Professional Development Awards are designed to celebrate the continuing professional development efforts and achievements of registrants from across the registers: Registered Science Technician (RSciTech), Registered Scientist (RSci), Chartered Scientist (CSci) and Chartered Science Teacher (CSciTeach).

To be a winner or to be awarded a commendation for the CPD Awards demonstrates an individual’s commitment to undertaking work-based learning and self-directed learning at a high, exemplary standard in order to benefit the quality of their practice and to benefit colleagues, patients, clients or any other users of the service they provide.

ENDS

Photo: Daisy pictured with the Science Council Chair of the Board of Trustees, Professor David Croisdale-Appleby (on the left) and Chair of the Science Council CPD Learning Group, Trevor Lewis (on the right).