The document summarizes a new foundation degree program in East Midlands, UK for healthcare science workers. The 2-year part-time program aims to equip assistant-level staff with scientific knowledge and work experience to become associate practitioners able to perform basic diagnostic tests across specialties. This will allow multiple tests to be done by one practitioner and reduce wait times, fulfilling the vision of healthcare reform. The first cohort of 25 students works in areas like pathology and medical physics.

1. www.fdf.ac.uk
East Midlands sets the Vision
• Ground-breaking Foundation degree for the healthcare
science sector
• Flexible structure supporting all healthcare science
areas – scientific, diagnostic, clinical
• Scientifically-based approach providing a robust
underpinning of science and scientific practice
• Application of new technologies and techniques in the work
context – acute and community settings
• Supported work/practice-based learning co-ordinated by a
clinical tutor
• Tailored learning opportunities to support specialist
requirements
• Aligns with the Skills for Health Healthcare Science Career
Framework and Modernising Healthcare science
• New, Associate practitioner roles in Trusts
”Rapid advances in science and the 18 week GP referral to first
treatment pathway target means we need to reduce patient
waiting times for diagnostic testing to less than six weeks.
Under the current staffing structure, offering a variety of tests
and procedures in the community requires a highly qualified
healthcare professional for each specialist assessment.
So, to perform an x-ray and an ECG would require both a
cardiologist and a radiographer on site. This simply isn’t
economical or sensible.”
Joan Peel, Project Manager, Pathology Training and
Development Manager, Northampton General Hospital
The solution is seen as enabling the‘wider workforce’to
obtain a universally recognised, work-based, qualification –
the Foundation degree (Fd). Equipped with this knowledge
and practice base, assistant level staff will become Associate
practitioners able to deliver an array of basic diagnostic
tests. This will reduce the need for several professionals to
be present when more than one test is required. Registered
healthcare scientists within the relevant specialisms would
then carry out the detailed analysis, diagnostics and reporting
on receipt of the test results. This would fulfil part of the vision
set out in Lord Darzi’s review and plan for healthcare reform.
CaseStudyEast Midlands puts Modernising Healthcare Science careers into practice
East Midlands puts Modernising Healthcare Science
Careers into Practice
fdf ( Foundation Degree Forward) has been working with East Midlands’ Pathology and Clinical Physiology
managers, the Strategic Health Authority modernisation leads and De Montfort and Nottingham Trent
Universities to put modernising healthcare science careers into practice with a new, cutting-edge Associate
practitioner, Foundation degree programme.

2. www.fdf.ac.uk
The First Foundation degree for the
Whole Healthcare Science workforce
The two year, part-time, Fd programme has been designed
by the service with De Montfort and Nottingham Trent
universities. Bringing the universities together
to build a new education partnership has enabled the
initiative to capitalise on their expertise in biomedical
sciences and clinical physiology. This has led to
a radically different, integrated healthcare science Fd
programme setting a precedent for conjoint working in the
provision of healthcare science.
“All Associate practitioners in healthcare sciences have a similar
‘core’ knowledge requirement to undertake their roles.
If Associate practitioners gain a broad scientific theory and then
relate it back to their own practice, it will create a large number
of employees capable of a variety of tasks who have flexible and
transferable skills; rather than a small number with niche skills.
Associate practitioners could potentially be able to transfer
between specialities such as Pathology and Cardiology.”
Joan Peel
The first cohort of 25 students (September 2008) currently
work in healthcare science across the East Midlands in
specialities such as pathology, cell culture and medical
physics.
The Fd programme includes:
• Generic practitioner skills – team working,
time management, communication, IT skills, health and
safety, quality control. These can be adapted for each
specialised area
• Anatomy and physiology
• Instrumentation, diagnostics and clinical measurements
• Drugs and tissues
• Structured and supported learning in the work
environment
The model, introducing the new level of Associate
practitioner, is seen by East Midlands NHS Trust leads as
opening up development opportunities for their healthcare
science workforce as a whole. As Joan says:
“It is about building the expertise of our assistant workforce.
But it is also about enabling qualified staff to develop and
utilise their skills to undertake more complex diagnostics and
interventions providing better patient care.”
Joan Peel
For further information please visit the fdf website at
www.fdf.ac.uk
or contact the fdf Press Office at
enquiries@fdf.ac.uk