'Developing Healthcare Science'
Summary of the Strategy for Healthcare Science in Scotland
Workforce Development: Short-Term
- Establish a mechanism for capturing Healthcare Scientist workforce statistics and demographics.
- Undertake a survey of all Healthcare Scientists in Scotland and construct a Healthcare Scientist database.
- Use the results from the workforce survey to construct a profile of Healthcare Science and Healthcare Scientists in Scotland and to identify any areas of recruitment and retention that require urgent attention.
- Use the results from the workforce survey and profile to formulate a workforce development strategy for Healthcare Scientists that aligns with the common approach to workforce development that is being developed at SEHD level by the National Workforce Development Committee.
Workforce Development: Long-Term
- Implement the workforce development strategy and monitor progress as a key result indicator of the long-term support of Healthcare Science in Scotland
- Collaborate with the National Workforce Development Committee and the National Workforce Unit to explore new ways to develop the Healthcare Scientist workforce to be part of multi-profession teams and networks that improve the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of healthcare disorders
Education and Training: Short-Term
- Document current awards, qualifications, training provision and training support for Healthcare Scientists in Scotland.
- Facilitate the introduction of the Department of Health Career Pathway for Healthcare Scientists in Scotland.
- Identify the shortfall in training provision and capacity and support for Healthcare Scientists in Scotland between that currently available and that required for the Career Pathway.
Education and Training: Long-Term
- Work with NES to rationalize provision and to identify resources to meet the identified shortfall in training provision and capacity for Healthcare Scientists.
- Develop and introduce a Scottish education and training strategy for Healthcare Science that aligns with the common approach to workforce development that is being developed by SEHD. This strategy should focus on the special contribution that Healthcare Scientists can make in areas such as problem solving, evidence-based medicine, clinical audit and quality assurance.
- Collaborate with other stakeholder professions to develop education and training support for healthcare workers in flexible, multi-profession teams.
Scientific Development and Innovation: Short-Term
- Establish links with the Chief Scientist Office and Research and Development (R&D) Leads at Health Board and Division levels to gain insight into the scope and breadth of current R&D activity undertaken by Healthcare Scientists
- Undertake and publish a comprehensive Scotland-wide survey of R&D being undertaken and supported by Healthcare Scientists. The survey should address research awareness and capacity as well as current activity.
- From this work, develop a better understanding of R&D needs which address improvements in patient outcomes.
Scientific Development and Innovation: Long-Term
Despite the academic base of many Healthcare Scientists, the diversity of work undertaken means that there is a lack of infrastructure to support greater involvement in clinical research, to build on research expertise or to develop research leadership. The long-term goal must be to develop innovative research programmes , which include a focus on diagnostics and which parallel working patterns. Critical elements include:
- Develop a targeted R&D strategy for Healthcare Science in Scotland based on knowledge gained during the short-term.
- Develop infrastructure to support R&D that focuses on effective partnerships, capacity building, joint appointments to facilitate clinical/academic career pathways and funding opportunities.
- Promote a multidisciplinary approach to research and produce a toolkit to stimulate high quality collaborative research by Healthcare Scientists
- Maintain links with R&D Leads to ensure participation in the annual Scottish NHS Research day and promote additional activities which publicize high quality scientific activity in Healthcare Science.
Communication: Short-Term
- Develop and promote the SFHS website as the main source of communication on all matters related to Healthcare Science in Scotland
- Ensure communication between the SFHS, the Scottish Partnership Forum and the Human Resources Forum
- Produce a series of leaflets to encourage school children to consider a career in Healthcare Science and promote these through attendance at careers fairs. This work will be carried out in collaboration with Careers Scotland and the Learning Development and Careers Division of SEHD.
Communication: Long-Term
- Develop and implement an active publicity campaign to promote the growing contribution being made by Healthcare Science to healthcare in Scotland. The campaign would include promotion of Healthcare Science Awareness Week. There would be two target audiences for this campaign - healthcare management and healthcare users, including the general public
- Organize a high profile conference to promote the contribution of Healthcare Scientists to healthcare in Scotland.
- Produce and publicize a series of articles to inform and motivate the Healthcare Science workforce in Scotland
- Undertake a critical review of the case for the re-introduction of a formal scientific advisory structure in Scotland.
Professional Links: Short-Term
- Consolidate the working relationship between the SFHS and FHCS,
- Strengthen existing links between the SFHS and key departments in SEHD, including the HR Directorate, the Workforce Development Unit, NES, the Careers and Learning Department and the Centre for Change and Innovation
- Establish an effective working relationship with the Chief Scientific Officer (England) and the Chief Scientific Advisor (Wales) to share best practice as part of developing healthcare science.
Professional Links: Long-Term
- Establish a national lead for Healthcare Science within SEHD.
- Establish Healthcare Science 'leads' in Scottish Regions and Health Boards, including liaison with Research and Development Leads and representation on each Area Clinical Forum. The SFHS believes that these 'lead' roles can be undertaken as a small part of an existing role by a senior Healthcare Scientist working in conjunction with an HR Manager.