A working mum is now pursuing her dream career in healthcare and working in medical research, after spending her earlier working life piercing ears.

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Kathryn Hughes, 46, from Bromborough who is mum to two girls, aged 10 and five, spent her early career in retail management including a number of years at a national jewellery and accessories outlet where she would often handle a needle to pierce customers’ ears on the shop floor.

She now takes bloods and supports the roll out of a national clinical trial into the effects of COVID-19 on healthcare workers as a Research Officer at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

Kathryn says: “I’d always wanted to work for the NHS, especially as my husband works as a children’s assistant in a local hospital and loves his job.

“I was a supervisor in a clothing retailer when I had to use my first aid skills on a colleague who fell ill. It was after this I realised I wanted to use my experience in management and administration to help others and I’ve been working in healthcare ever since.

“Now when I’m donning a pair of latex gloves and holding a needle, it’s to take someone’s blood as part of a clinical trial. The trial I’m currently involved in is called SIREN; it’s test for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies so we can find out more about how the virus spreads.”

Whilst Kathryn’s day job usually involves clinical trials to research the latest cancer treatments, she is enjoying the opportunity to support the NHS’s ongoing fight against COVID-19.

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“My favourite part of my job is getting to meet my colleagues from all over the Trust. I’ve taken everyone’s blood, from our reception staff to our Medical Director. As a Trust, our staff are all keen to support clinical trials and do what we can to help scientists know more about COVID-19.

“It’s a really rewarding job with loads of opportunities. I’m so glad I made the move into healthcare.”

Dr Gillian Heap is Director of Research and Innovation Operations at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust. She said: “Since May 2020, we’ve recruited almost 1,000 people onto COVID-19 and cancer clinical trials, including the SIREN study, so we need dedicated and skilled people like Kathryn behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly.

“Medical and clinical research is an exciting arena to be in; it’s our job to be able to offer people with cancer the latest and most innovative treatments so that in the future, more people survive or live longer with cancer.”