Health and Care Research Wales has welcomed the launch of the first five year strategy on Research and Innovation for Healthcare Science Professionals in NHS Wales

Health and Care Research Wales has welcomed the launch of the first five year strategy on Research and Innovation for Healthcare Science Professionals in NHS Wales.

The strategy, developed by the Healthcare Science Programme within Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) and the Healthcare Science Research and Innovation Group (HCS RIG), was informed by the healthcare science profession in Wales across all specialties.

It aims to establish healthcare science professionals as recognised key contributors of research, innovation and in the transformation of clinical practice at a time that NHS Wales has increasing needs.

With more than thirty healthcare science professions, healthcare scientists play a significant role supporting patients including direct patient care and rehabilitation, provision of the majority of diagnostics, medical equipment management and in research and innovation.

Healthcare science professionals are fundamental not only for the services they provide, but for bringing in new and integrated ways of providing care, using innovation and evidence to improve and change thereby improving patient care.

The strategy sets out a blueprint for the NHS Wales healthcare science workforce outlining the vision for increasing research and innovation in the profession, aligned with the priorities of Welsh Government in A Healthier Wales, the Diagnostics Recovery and Transformation Strategy for Wales and Healthcare Science in NHS Wales – Looking Forward Framework, underpinned by the Duty of Quality Statutory Guidance.

Carys Thomas and Michael Bowdery, Joint Interim Directors at Health and Care Research Wales, said: “We are delighted to see that the healthcare science community has come together to produce this new strategy. 

“These professions play an integral role in leading and delivering some of the most cutting-edge research and innovation across the NHS. This document recognises the importance of developing capacity and careers for these professions – a key issue for the sector across the UK and one which Welsh healthcare science professionals are leading in their approach to address. 

“We look forward to working with the community to implement the strategy in ways that will drive growth in impactful research for both patient and public benefit.”