Professor Sue Hill OBE, Chief Scientific Officer
Welcome back to the Chief Scientific Officer’s Bulletin, which will continue to bring healthcare science news from across the health and care system, reflecting the cross-cutting responsibilities of the CSO role.
With the NHS reaching its 65th birthday this month, this is an appropriate time to reflect on just how significant a role healthcare science plays within the system, improving outcomes and quality of life for patients and the public. The NHS needs to continues to ‘operate at the limits of science’ – as it has throughout its life – and the inclusion of this statement in the first paragraph of the NHS Constitution recognises the importance of healthcare science to a developing and thriving NHS. To make this a reality at all levels of the system requires proactive engagement and involvement by us all.
Since the transition changes in April we have been working hard to ensure that the various priority workstreams within the new system are reflecting the input from healthcare science. Of particular importance is our work with the five domain teams of NHS England: reducing mortality, long-term conditions, acute care, patient experience and patient safety. Healthcare scientists are at the centre of the innovation and improvement agenda and in supporting the resilience and integrity of the service; we are also helping to shape the future of clinical education and training at Health Education England and continuing the implementation of Modernising Scientific Careers.
Our agenda is definitely full, which is why I’m delighted that Fiona Carragher has formally taken up the post of Deputy Chief Scientific Officer from 1 July. Fiona brings with her expertise as a Consultant Clinical Biochemist and as a leader and developer of scientific networks, transforming professional linkages across the capital while being Scientific Director for London.
Leadership and joint working through networks are vital to ensure coherence in the new system and an integrated approach to the delivery of priorities. This Bulletin lists some of the opportunities for development and recognition in these areas.
We will continue to develop the Bulletin and your views are always welcome.
Sue
Note: new contact details – CSO email: sue.l.hill@nhs.net, Deputy CSO email: fiona.carragher@nhs.net, Office tel: 020 7972 5862
CSO/NIHR Healthcare Science Fellowships – deadline approaches
The deadline for the 2013 application round for the Chief Scientific Officer’s Healthcare Science Fellowships, supported by the NIHR and Health Education England, is fast approaching. Applications for the doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships need to be completed by 7 August 2013, while applications for the Clinical Lectureship scheme need to be completed by 31 July.
Details of the fellowships and how to apply can be found on the NIHR Trainees Coordinating Centre website
Patient information at a touch as Lab Tests Online UK launch Mobile app
A new mobile phone app has been launched by Lab Tests Online UK to make it easier for patients to access information about clinical laboratory. The app allows patients with iPhones & iPads or Android smartphones to easily and quickly access the online information from Lab Tests Online UK about any of their tests. With 60% of the UK population now having smartphones, the app is a great way to improve access to information.
National awards for healthcare science excellence
Penny Hogg and Richard Lomas of NHS Blood and Transplant have led the healthcare scientists honoured at the 2013 Advancing Healthcare Awards. They picked up the ‘Research into Action’ award for their research which has transformed outcomes for people suffering from chronic leg ulcers.
Healthcare science also featured at the inaugural Cogent Life Science Skills Awards. The North East Pathology Network picked up the Healthcare Science Award to lead a hat-trick of awards for the profession. Both sets of awards were supported by the Office of the CSO.
Experts sought for NICE committees and working groups
The National Institute for Healthcare and Clinical Excellence (NICE) are seeking a number of experts for their committees and working groups. In particular, they are looking for:
a specialist member for their Diagnostics Advisory Committee on Cardiac Biomarkers (closing date 8 August 2013)
a member for their Technology appraisal committee (revised closing date 22 July 2013
The full range of opportunities and details of the work are listed on the NICE website
National School holds trainee induction day in Birmingham on 19 September
The National School of Healthcare Science will hold an induction day for all the trainees joining the Scientist Training Programme in 2013 on 19 September at Aston Villa Football Club in Birmingham. Trainees will receive the new trainee handbook containing guidance and information about the STP and the event will include a live session on assessment and the OLAT system.
Training departments should have now received details of the new trainees who will join them in September. More details and links to the recruitment guidance are available in the NSHCS summer e-Bulletin.
NHS leadership academy welcomes applicants for next intake of Edward Jenner programme
The second intake of the Edward Jenner leadership programme is now open for applications. The programme is especially applicable to those who are newly qualified, new or returning to a role and aspiring leaders. The programme consists of 21 sessions and accessed as an flexible online resource to fit around service commitments.
Summer Modernising Scientific Careers update from NHS Employers
NHS Employers have published a Summer 2013 update on the progress of the Modernising Scientific Careers programme. The summer update includes:
information about the new Electronic Staff Record recording system for the healthcare science workforce
details of new education and training programmes
an update on the development of Higher Specialist Scientific Training
access to newly published MSC shared learning examples.
Council of Healthcare Science launches website
The Council of Healthcare Science in Higher Education (CHS) – the organisation that brings together academic healthcare science across the UK – has launched its website at www.councilofhealthcarescience.ac.uk to provide a wide range of useful resources higher education and beyond.
The CHS builds a unified identity of academic healthcare science by representing the interests of the sector and is made up of senior members of the academic healthcare science team.
Nominations open for NHS Leadership Recognition Awards
Healthcare scientists are being encourages to submit nominations for the nine categories of the NHS Leadership Recognition Awards, from ‘Emerging Leader’ to ‘Mentor/Coach of the Year’. Nominations are being collected on a regional basis and should be submitted using the online form by 16 August 2013.
Latest developments highlighted on virtual physiological human project
The work of Professor Wendy Tindale and her colleagues to develop the Virtual Physiological Human – computer modelling of individual patients to predict disease – has been highlighted in a feature in the Health Service Journal. The project was previously the subject of a major session at the 2012 CSO conference.
Research highlights case for investment in patient information
A new research report highlights how providing information to patients and their carers improves outcomes, reduces costs and gives people a better experience of care.
The Patient Information Forum research, which looked at over 300 studies, found that there are good business reasons to justify the investment of more time, money and training in health information provision and support.
New education and training measures to improve patient care
The Government has published its Mandate to Health Education England (HEE) setting out plans for education and training for all NHS staff and giving healthcare scientists a clear account of where priorities lie. This is the first time that a single organisation has had responsibility for all NHS staff education, recruitment, training and development.
As part of the NHS 65th birthday celebrations HEE is collecting photos and stories of how the education and training of the clinical professions has changed over the last 65 years. Send your contributions to hee.communications@nhs.net.
Latest screening consultations from Public Health England
The UK National Screening Committee, part of PHE, advises Ministers and the NHS in the four UK countries about screening policy and supports implementation of screening programmes. Policies are usually reviewed every three years and the current public consultations on screening policy include:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in adults (closes 26 July)
Syphilis in pregnancy (closes 14 August)
Vision Defects in children (closes 24 August)
NIHR Clinical Research Network annual statistics and league table
The National Institute of Health Research – Clinical Research Network has launched its annual statistics and league table. The league table shows the number of clinical research studies that took place in each NHS Trust over the last year.
£260 million technology fund to make the NHS safer
The Secretary of State for Health and Professor Sir Bruce Keogh have launched a £260 million Technology Fund to enable doctors and nurses and other frontline staff to access better information about patients and provide safer care. The fund will be available to NHS providers, supporting the rapid progression from paper-based systems for patient notes and prescriptions to integrated electronic care records and the development of e-prescribing and e-referral systems.
Unlocking data – guidance published on operation of care.data initiative
NHS England published a range of information and guidance to support the care.data initiative. Care.data will be a unique data service which collects and links patient-level data spanning all primary and secondary care providers across England. The service will help clinicians evaluate outcomes from health and care services and support clinical commissioning decisions. The guidance explains what information will be collected from general practice and how patient information will be linked and anonymised to ensure patient confidentiality.
Revised arrangements for issue of Healthcare Professional Alert Notices
NHS England has written to NHS Trust Medical Directors and Area Team Medical Directors setting out interim arrangements for issuing Healthcare Professional Alert Notices. In the letter, the Secretary of State has directed the National Health Service Litigation Authority to operate the Healthcare Professional Alert Notices system from 1 April 2013. NHS organisations who wish to request the issue of an Alert Notice should notify the National Clinical Assessment Service.
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