A leading medical scientist retires this month after 45 years dedicated service to Northern Devon patients.
Biomedical scientist Philip Parker began his long career in 1965 when a sudden change in family circumstances forced him to give up a place at a prestigious college to support his family.
As a promising young chemist, Philip started work as a student biomedical scientist in the pathology laboratory of what was then the North Devon Infirmary, analysing tissue and other samples from patients.
Philip says: ‘In those days tests were performed in glass tubes with bunsen burners and other scientific paraphernalia. It looked like Frankenstein’s laboratory!
‘Back then, we used to deal with about 500 tests a day. Nowadays, in the hospital’s biochemistry lab alone, we analyse between 8000 and 10000 tests per day! It’s an absolutely enormous task – public expectations are very high these days – and that’s no bad thing’.
As Head Biomedical Scientist for Biochemistry at Northern Devon Healthcare Trust, Philip has developed the service in line with the fast pace of technological change.
In line with his continuing thirst for knowledge, Philip developed a particular expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma, introducing and developing many new techniques.
Philip continues: ‘I shall very much miss helping my North Devon myeloma patients, with whom I feel a great affinity. It has been wonderful to see how my medical consultant colleagues’ treatment of this condition has improved the lives of these patients so significantly’.
In this retirement, Philip looks forward to pursuing another of his major interests – composing and performing music.
