1. Scientific Careers in the NHS Dr Richard Scott, Consultant Medical Physicist Head of Service – Medical Equipment Management Dept Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Clinical Advisor to East Midlands SHA

2. Presentation Overview Introduce Healthcare Science Describe a Clinical Engineering career Introduce Modernising Scientific Careers Give an overview of new training schemes

3. A bit about my background – to highlight in service opportunities for graduates………..  First degree BSc(Hons) Electronic Engineering, 1984 with placement at MRC, Clinical Research Centre All that follows gained whilst in NHS employment................. Masters Degree Medical Electronics & Physics, 1987 St Bartholomew’s Medical College  PhD Assessment of Respiratory Mechanics, 1993 Bath University, (part-time)  Chartered Engineer, CEng & Chartered Scientist, CSci  Member of IET & Inst of Physics & Eng in Medicine  Registered Clinical Scientist, Health Professions Council  NHS career & 27 years since first clinical placement

4. Healthcare Scientists: 55,000 staff with 51 disciplines in 3 broad divisions:

5. What is Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering? Scientific or Engineering principles & practice applied to Interactions of energy with tissue Acquisition and analysis of Physiological Signals/data Engineering support for patient benefit..............………in a Healthcare environment

6. Med Physics & Clinical Eng Lasers Radiation Protection Diagnostic Radiology MRI Nuclear Medicine Radiotherapy Radio-Pharmacy Ultrasound Non-ionising Radiation Device Management Rehab Engineering Medical Electronics Renal Technology Biomechanical Eng Clinical Measurement/Service Support e.g. Audiology, Cardio-respiratory, Gastro - intestinal - support/delivery patient investigations Clinical Measurement/Service Support e.g. Audiology, Cardio-respiratory, Gastro - intestinal - support/delivery patient investigations Evolved with NHS to meet local needs Common Features Scientific Basis Patient Service –direct/indirect Enhance safety Compliance Innovation –modest/R&D

7. Medical Equipment Lifecycle Choose Equipment Keep it safe Dispose of equipment Check it when new Put it into use Specification Evaluation Cost to own Acceptance TestStaff Training Equip Store Maintenance Patient Safety Withdraw from use Disposal Medical Device Information System Purpose built workshops and specialist test equipment ISO 9001 Quality System – registered with the British Standards Institute Professionally Trained Staff

8. A “Typical Year” 12172 PPM’s & 6448 Repairs 271 Equip Enquiries 1263 Accept Tests Training New Hospital moves Radiology & Path added to inventory Investigate incidents 1278 Condemns Setting up the equipment library 99 Safety Alerts Equipment Forecasting Repairing beds “Chief Physicist” – chair Radiation Safety, Medical Device Advisory Group & Equipment Committee

9. Modernising Scientific Careers MSC is a Department of Health project to transform the future training and career pathways of the healthcare science workforce

10. Modernising Scientific Careers – Career Structure Assistant Scientist Practitioner Consultant/ Higher Specialist Scientist Undertake clearly defined task and protocol based, high volume, low risk activities requiring some structured training such as vocational training qualifications e.g. phlebotomist Apply technology, in the delivery and reporting of quality assured tests, investigations and interventions for patients, on samples and equipment. Use a degree of judgement and deal with ambiguity within a clinical context. Able to undertake activities which are outlined in ‘protocols’ e.g. genetic screening activities Complex scientific and clinical roles. High risk, low volume activities which require highly skilled staff able to exercise clinical judgement about complex facts and clinical situations. Interact with patients e.g. undertaking complex heart scan which requires professional judgement and interpretation In-depth, highly complex role. Equivalent to medical consultant role as requires clinical judgement, scientific expertise and leadership in direct patient care e.g. specialist scientific expertise to develop and implement new radiotherapy treatments such as proton therapy. This role could include a clinical director/consultant audiologist with expertise in complex hearing/ balance problems Associate Undertake more advanced and complex high volume low risk investigative tasks. Requires appropriately trained staff, probably at Foundation degree level training e.g. processing samples through machines in pathology laboratories and fitting hearing aids 19

11. Healthcare Scientists: 55,000 staff with 51 disciplines in 3 broad divisions:

15. Each trainee will be expected to complete a minimum number of formal assessments to meet the full curriculum requirements within a certain timescale which include;  Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS)  Case-based Discussion (CbD)  Competency log  Multi Source Feedback (MSF)  Mini Clinical Examinations (mini-Cex)

16. Scientist Training Programme  Salary support Band 6  Nationally recruited  3 year fixed term contract training scheme which includes an MSc  4 X 3month rotations  Courses have gone out to tender to interested Universities  Universities will be decided around June 2011  Academic introductory block  Aim of the programme is to attract, select and retain the best people to Scientist training posts.

17. 2011 STP Recruitment Process  Adverts New Scientist – NHS Jobs link  Short listing 14th- 23rd March 2011  Invite to assessment day before 4 th April 2011  Assessment 4 th - 20 th April at Birmingham City Football club  4 separate interview areas with two assessors  Standard questions about different aspects of the person specification

21. Wide variety of challenging & rewarding scientific careers in NHS across Life, Physiological & Physical sciences Graduate roles Practitioner @ BSc Scientist @ MSc HSST – exciting & in-development Thanks for listening.............. richard.scott@sfh-tr.nhs.uk Conclusions