IPEM Supports the National School for Healthcare Science as it Responds to Review
IPEM Supports Importance of the National School of Healthcare Science and Stands Ready to Support Improved Training and Education
IPEM has responded to NHS England’s Review of the National School of Healthcare Science. Emphasising the importance of the National School to training the next generation of Medical Physicists and Clinical Engineers, IPEM offered to support the expansion of training and education capacity and an enhanced curriculum, encompassing new and emerging technologies and environmental sustainability. The importance of recognising Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering as vital professions was particularly highlighted as an area the School should address.
In its response, IPEM said,
“Healthcare Science is at the forefront of innovation across the NHS and also the academic and business sectors that are key to supporting the NHS through their research and development. Medical Physicists and Clinical Engineers are essential to the development, implementation and operation of both new and existing technologies, from Linear Accelerators, to patient worn monitors to cutting edge AI enabled MRI scanners, and their role should be properly recognised and their involvement in the development of a new NHS embraced.
Increasing the number of MPCE staff would significantly contribute to innovation and the safe and efficient delivery of healthcare for the future.
Maintaining and training the workforce for a sustainable NHS requires significant training resource. This needs to recognised and resourced within the current MPCE workforce with protected and funded resource provided for clinical professionals.”
Addressing the role of the National School, IPEM commented,
“At a time of increasing workforce and financial challenges, it is essential that funded training places are available and the NSHCS provides that. If it did not exist, or had this function removed, it would need to be provided somewhere else to prevent serious difficulties with providing an ongoing service.
The NSHCS provides a single point of contact for trainees and training providers. This applies to both the curricula and the trainee application process. Again any removal of these functions would be detrimental to the training process and function.”
IPEM’s Head of Communications & Public Affairs, Chris Watt, commented:
“The National School of Healthcare Science is important to ensure that Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering has enough properly trained professionals to ensure the safe and effective care of patients.
Of course, there are always areas for improvement and whilst the National School does many things well, IPEM stands ready to work in partnership to deliver a better service where needed. This includes, for instance, implementing the recommendations of IPEM’s recent report on the Higher Specialist Scientist Training (HSST) programme.”
IPEM has generated the following recommendations based on survey findings:
- Communicate the position of registration on the HSSR: this is evidence of the skillset needed to become a CCS, not a guarantee of a CCS position
- Promote the existing flexibility in delivery of HSST and increase this further where possible. Increase awareness of existing part-time modalities, and longer time frames for completion. To increase further the flexibility of the programme, support for modular or remote learning is suggested
- Suggest that the current HSST physics curriculum is reviewed, with particular focus on the Imaging track and alignment with Medical Physics Expert (MPE) requirements
- Support HSSE as alternative route to registration, through workshops, peer support, and alternative learning opportunities
- Encourage MRI staff who are interested in HSST to enrol on the programme’s Imaging track, without Part C if they hold a relevant PhD.