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New training and education programme introduced for the scientific workforce in genetics

A new education programme has been developed to provide enhanced training in genetic technologies and clinical applications for healthcare scientists working in laboratory genetics, Health Minister Ann Keen announced today.

This pilot is part of the UK Modernising Scientific Careers (MSC) programme which is transforming education, training and career pathways for the healthcare science workforce.

The pilot funded by the Department of Health is investing over £4.5 million to address the training needs of the healthcare science workforce in genetics.

The new pilot will:

• Respond to future workforce needs, which has increased significantly in the last ten years as scientific discoveries have created new opportunities to diagnose and predict disease
• Inform the roll out of the MSC programme for other healthcare science training programmes which will begin in 2010 with full implementation in 2012
• Establish a national School of Genetics in the West Midlands
• Modernise the genetics curricula to respond to breakthrough scientific advances and their applications for patients and the public.

Health Minister Ann Keen said:

'Science and innovation are at the heart of high quality healthcare for patients in the 21st century, underpinning the development of new diagnostics and treatments which have a major impact on the health and social care system. 

 'Geneticists carry out life informing work by predicting and diagnosing disease so it is fundamental that we invest in creating training and career opportunities for this important group of NHS staff'.

'This pilot will also inform the Modernising Scientific Careers programme as it moves to implementation as well as creating a high quality healthcare science workforce which will make the benefits of science and technology a reality for patients.'

Professor Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer for the Department of Health said:

'This will give trainees modernised education and training focussed on the advances in genetic technology and knowledge to ensure delivery of leading edge services for patients and the public.  It also supports the delivery of the NHS Next Stage Review commitments putting high quality care, innovation and improved productivity at its core in this fast-moving field. 

'I look forward to working with those involved in the pilot and to consulting with MSC stakeholders as it progresses.'

Peter Blythin, Director of Nursing and Workforce at NHS West Midlands said:

'We are delighted to be hosting and establishing a national School of Genetics here in the West Midlands and to be part of such a groundbreaking pilot scheme that will ultimately deliver leading edge services for patients and the public.'

The pilot programme, to begin in October 2009, will fund 24 pilot training posts for 12 trainee Healthcare Science Practitioners and 12 Healthcare Scientists in Genetics. The trainees will be based in a number of NHS genetics departments throughout England and will be brought together for national training events and courses. NHS West Midlands has agreed to host the process for all the SHAs involved.

The successful chosen pilot sites are:

• Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
• NE Thames Regional Genetics Service, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust and Northwick Park NHS Trust
• Southmead hospital, Bristol
• Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust
• East Anglian Medical Genetics Service, Addenbrookes hospital
• Institute of Human Genetics The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,
• Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, Genetics Laboratories
• The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services Division AND Sheffield Laboratories, Sheffield Childrens Foundation NHS Trust