PERSONAL PROFILE
Phil Learoyd [Yorkshireman]
Phil was educated at Leeds Boys Grammar School. Although his intention was to go to university fate intervened with an alternative plan. He acquired a ‘holiday job’ working in the solutions preparation area of the Leeds Blood Centre, during which time he was offered a Trainee Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer post at the Leeds Blood Centre. This option allowed Phil the opportunity of earning money whilst at the same time progressing his education and career, an attractive option for any Yorkshireman!
He became a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) in 1975, and subsequently was the course convenor and tutor of the BTEC and IBMS Transfusion Science courses at the Leeds Metropolitan University from 1977 to 1989. During this same period he was an examiner for the IBMS and the (then) Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine, a Clinical Pathology Accreditation inspector and a laboratory accreditation inspector for the IBMS.
Having worked in a number of different laboratory departments at the Leeds Blood Centre, which included being the Scientific Head of the H&I Department from 1980 to 1988, he became Clinical Laboratories Manager in 1988 and subsequently the Laboratory Services Manager at the Leeds Blood Centre in 1994. Following a National Blood and Transplant Service structural re-organisation, Phil was able to follow a career long interest in transfusion education when he became the NBTS Scientific and Technical Training Manager. The role involved being the national lead for specialist transfusion training and scientific staff training for five Blood Centres in the North of England.
Phil is a Founder Member of the British Blood Transfusion Society (BBTS), becoming its first Regional Representative, a post that he held for many years. Having been co-opted onto the newly formed BBTS Professional Affairs and Educational Committee he developed (together with Robin Knight) the BBTS Certificate in Transfusion Science course and examination (which has subsequently developed into the ‘Specialist Certificate’), being a co-author of the early editions of the BBTS book ‘An Introduction to Blood Transfusion Science and Blood Bank Practice’. Phil was directly involved with the creation and development of the BBTS CPD scheme and held the post of CPD Development Officer for a number of years, which included being the editor of the BBTS CPD News and co-author of the BBTS CPD Portfolio.
Phil was awarded the BBTS Gold Medal for services to blood transfusion in 2007 and the recipient of the Scotblood Copland Lifetime Achievement in 2008. After working for forty years for the NBTS Phil retired in 2009 at which point he accepted the role of BBTS Honorary Historian, a post that has enabled him to continue his (career-long) interest in the history of blood transfusion.
