Website of the Department of Health

Statement: UK-wide Modernising Scientific Careers

A UK wide programme to modernise scientific careers was established in 2007.

In England, the policy for the modernisation of scientific careers was set out in the Next Stage Review documents High Quality Care and A High Quality Workforce published in 2008.

In Scotland, the development of healthcare science follows Better Health Better Care, and is set out in Safe Accurate and Effective: An Action Plan for Healthcare Science in NHS Scotland, both published in 2007.

In Wales Designed to Work (July 2006) identified the need for modernisation of professions in order to create a sustainable workforce for the future and this is further developed for pathology staff in Future Delivery of Pathology Services (2008)

In November 2008, we published a UK consultation document The Future of the Healthcare Science Workforce. Modernising Scientific Careers: The Next Steps which set out more comprehensive proposals to transform the future training and career pathways of the healthcare science workforce. This statement sets out the direction of travel following the closure of consultation on 6 March 2009.

We received over 900 responses to the proposals from individuals, employers, professional bodies, education providers and others. A full independent analysis of the responses is being conducted.

Overall, there was recognition of the need to modernise education and training for this workforce and general support for the proposed model. There are some areas however where respondents have asked for more detail, additional clarification or have suggested refinements. Work continues to develop the education and training curricula and to further refine the training programmes and other aspects related to implementation. 

Over the summer, further engagement events will be held to inform the model as it emerges. Invitations will be sent out to senior professionals and wider NHS stakeholders. As previously indicated we will publish a further policy document, in the autumn.

There will be a separate consultation on proposals for a new regulatory framework. We have begun the background preparation work and we will shortly be engaging with all stakeholders to develop these proposals. We will set them out in a separate consultation document.