Foreword

Our annual Healthcare Science event, titled ‘Leadership Through Change and Innovation’, was held online on 1st September in conjunction with the Scottish Government. The four sessions covered Scotland’s strategic direction for Healthcare Science; education updates from Public Services Delivery Scotland; Healthcare Science developments across the UK; and change and innovation in practice, including point-of-care testing and presentations from the three shortlisted poster entrants. Evaluation responses received that the event was informative, well-paced and relevant to the future direction of the profession. More information on this can be found within the newsletter.

The Healthcare Science pilot of the National Education and Training Survey (NETS) Scotland has now been completed with the findings being used alongside our wider quality assurance information, and existing surveys and resources have been strengthened to improve how concerns, wellbeing, inappropriate behaviours and routes for support are identified and addressed. Our thanks to all who participated.

The Education, Skills and Competence frameworks for the five Healthcare Science professional groupings are now complete, together with a gap analysis of education and training provision across Scotland. Work is progressing with our digital colleagues to make the generic elements of the frameworks available in an accessible digital format on our website, with specialty-specific content retained in a format that can be reviewed and updated efficiently. This work will support clearer career development, workforce planning and identification of future education priorities. Your support has been greatly appreciated in the development of this resource and we will continue to engage with you in relation to assuring that these are maintained.

Our Healthcare Science website is also being updated to improve navigation, accessibility and access to accurate, relevant information. As content is reviewed and refreshed, the site will increasingly bring together our frameworks, education and funding information, quality resources, career materials, event recordings and opportunities to engage with the team.

Our next Spotlight on Healthcare Science session will be held in November, providing further opportunities to hear about work taking place across the profession. Please keep an eye on our Mailchimp updates and website for speaker information and registration details.

A new Healthcare Science careers booklet is being developed to reflect the five professional groupings and provide an accessible introduction to the breadth of roles, entry routes and progression opportunities across the profession. Designed for learners, careers advisers, educators and colleagues supporting outreach, the booklet will complement the updated NHS Scotland Careers content and provide a practical resource for careers events, schools, colleges and universities.

Our Healthcare Science Support Worker Stakeholder Group met in August to discuss our Four Pillars of Practice resource and we received a wealth of valuable feedback and ideas that will help inform the next stage of development. We would like to thank all who contributed.

We continue to work with NHS boards, universities, professional bodies and national partners on the development of new programmes and initiatives. Current discussions include work across physiological sciences and Decontamination Sciences, alongside wider exploration of sustainable routes into and through Healthcare Science. If you wish to discuss these or other potential developments, please contact us at HCS@nes.scot.nhs.uk.