Healthcare science: strategic approach

Strategic Themes for Healthcare Science in Scotland

Five key themes will be used as a basis to explore the healthcare science landscape more thoroughly which will help provide a better understanding of what is required in specific areas, to support improvements to the NHS in Scotland.

Each of the strategic themes set out will be the focus of a future paper in the ‘Healthcare Science in Scotland’ series (figure 3). Each paper will detail the exploration carried out in respect of that theme, as well as showcasing work which has taken place or will take place in the future to support achieving our ambitions and ultimately the vision.

Strategic Themes in Detail:

Detail on how work under each theme will be carried out is described in the ‘Delivering Our Strategic Approach’ section of this document.

The following text describes in further detail the rationale for these strategic themes and specific areas which may be considered in future papers. Any work carried out under these themes must align with the strategic ambitions set out in the ‘Strategic Ambitions for Healthcare Science in Scotland’ section of this paper.

Strategic Theme: Education

Summary: Education is one of the pillars which will support our development of a sustainable workforce for the future. It provides the basis of scientific knowledge and understanding across the healthcare science specialties.

Work under this theme could consider:

• The development of an education framework which seeks to widen access across the profession
• The personal and professional development opportunities for our workforce.

Strategic Theme: Workforce

Summary: Our workforce is at the heart of the delivery of health services across the country, and healthcare scientists make up the fourth largest professional group working in NHS Scotland.

However, we need to understand more about our scientific workforce to better ensure healthcare science is included as an integral part of the delivery of other national strategies such as the NHS Recovery Plan and the National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care in Scotland.

The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019, will go some way in supporting development of that understanding, but there is more that could be explored. For example:

• Increasing the understanding of how to enter the healthcare science profession, at any stage of the career spectrum and navigating progression from that point – ultimately supporting the sustainability of our workforce
• Understanding and mapping emerging careers within the profession, and the specialties/sub-specialties, to support planning for the future in respect of the changing shape of the wider workforce to support future delivery, workforce numbers and the educational needs of the workforce.

Strategic Theme: Quality, Safety and Assurance

Summary: Quality services which are delivered in a safe and effective way is an absolutely fundamental principle within the delivery of NHS services in Scotland.

Learning must be shared across specialisms where areas for improvement have been identified – for example from recommendations made as part of the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland.

It is vital that robust governance and assurance is in place across healthcare science specialisms, so work under this theme may seek to consider the following:

• Mandatory regulation of professionals, where not already in place
• Requirement for professional or quality standards across specialisms.

Strategic Theme: Clinical Leadership

Summary: We recognise that there is a lack of wider system understanding – including from other professional groups - about the contribution of the scientific workforce to clinical service delivery and how the knowledge and expertise of professionals in healthcare science can be utilised more effectively.

Work under this theme could consider:

• Exploration of emerging research and technologies and how this could be applied to the NHS in Scotland to help improve patient outcomes
• Opportunities to expand the scope of practice of those working in healthcare science specialisms
• Changing the shape of the future workforce through expansion of healthcare science consultant level roles and practice within NHS Scotland.

Strategic Theme: Visibility and System Leadership

Summary: Increasing the visibility and understanding of healthcare science within the health system, and outwith, is absolutely essential to support improvements to patient outcomes in the longer term.

Healthcare science must be represented at senior levels in terms of service planning and decision making, so that the unique contribution of the scientific workforce is fully considered in improving population health and patient outcomes.

Work under this theme could consider:

• Exploration of leadership opportunities open to those working in the healthcare science profession
• Representation at Board level and targeted awareness raising with Board leadership about the impact of healthcare science specialisms
• Raising the visibility of healthcare science to be an attractive career option at any age or with any level of qualification.