Ian McCormick, lead biomedical scientist (BMS) for microbiology, has hung up his lab coat for the last time.
Ian had been a microbiology BMS for over 40 years, coming to NHS Lanarkshire from the laboratories at Yorkhill Hospital in August 1990 to take up a senior post at Law Hospital. He subsequently managed the move of the microbiology laboratory service to its current location at University Hospital Wishaw in 2001.
In 2010, Ian became the lead BMS for microbiology services across Lanarkshire, managing the service across the three acute sites, as well as primary care.
There have been many changes to laboratory sciences over the course of his career, but Ian’s passion for his profession has kept him up-to-date, moving the service with the times.
At the heart of everything he does, Ian has always been committed to the patients of Lanarkshire, spending many additional hours at night and over weekends to complete projects that benefited service users.
Ian will be a familiar face to many in NHS Lanarkshire, particularly over the last year where he has managed the implementation of a Covid-19 testing service where, from a standing start, over 180,000 tests have been performed in the space of a year.
Ian has a passion for travel and the great outdoors, as well as playing the drums – which he claims to be very mediocre at. He will now have time to indulge in his hobbies and perhaps take some lessons on the drums.
Lynn Guthrie, lead BMS, said: “Ian will be missed by all of his colleagues at the Hairmyres, Monklands and Wishaw laboratories, as well as many other staff who knew him across the organisation.
“Everyone in the microbiology department wishes him a very long, happy and healthy retirement.”
