National School of Healthcare Science recently initiated a review into the Scientist Training Programme curriculum. The NSHCS called a cross-specialty meeting, which Rob Farley, Director of IPEM's Professional and Standards Council and Jemimah Eve, Workforce Intelligence Unit (WIU) Manager attended. The National School had invited representatives who currently participate in the delivery of STP for each specialism, as well as the appointed Lead Editors for the specialisms and in total there were approximately 25 medical physicists in attendance, representing all four specialisms. Jemimah presented data on past qualifiers through both the STP and the IPEM scheme and also data from surveys of members regarding their experience of the STP training and preferences for realigning specialism, specifically the strong desire of the diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine communities to have separate specialisms, and similar amongst the non-ionising specialisms, that ultrasound and magnetic resonance physics have their own single specialism. Many thanks to all the heads of department, section and training coordinators who responded to the surveys.
The outcome of the cross-specialty meeting was that a preferred programme would be five specialisms: radiotherapy physics, nuclear medicine physics, diagnostic radiology and radiation protection physics, magnetic resonance physics and ultrasound physics. The National School have agreed to scope this possibility in terms of demand and in order to give them the information they need they have put together a survey. We would strongly encourage all members in a relevant position to comment on the alignment of specialisms to complete the survey. This includes but is not limited to
Clinical Scientists involved in delivering the STP
Trainees
Recently qualified Clinical Scientists through the STP
Heads of Department/Section and others involved in recruitment
Heads of Department/Section, training co-ordinators and others involved in local workforce planning and requesting STP training places
Academics at HEIs who are in a position to deliver the academic components
The survey is open until 11th August, and represents a great opportunity to re-shape the STP scheme to best meet the workforce’s needs. Please take this opportunity to let the school know what works best for medical physics in the England, Wales and Northern Ireland. IPEM is also seeking expressions of interest for suitably experienced Clinical Scientists to represent IPEM on the Editorial panel for each specialism.
The National School of Healthcare Science is asking the Professional Bodies to nominate a Lead Examiner for the Higher Specialist Scientist Training (HSST) programme. It is based on recommendations from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges for examiners in postgraduate medical specialties and modelled on particular requirements of the Royal College of Pathologists.
IPEM is looking for individuals who meet the eligibility requirements with respect to selection, training, performance management, duration of appointment and collection of equality and diversity data which are set out in this document. We will then put forward suitable nominations.
For more details of how to apply and by when, please contact communications@ipem.ac.uk.
The School is also looking to recruit a number of Specialty Lead Editors for the Scientist Training Programme (STP) Curriculum Content Review Project. They are looking for experienced Clinical Scientists to apply for the role of Specialty Lead Editor, who will head a Specialty Curriculum Review Group. The Review Group will be facilitated by the NSHCS and it will include Clinical Scientists, academics, professional body members, and patient representatives.
They are recruiting for the following Lead Editors in: Radiotherapy Physics, Imaging with Non-Ionising Radiation, Imaging with Ionising Radiation, Radiation Safety, and Clinical Bioinformatics Physical Sciences. For more information, including how to apply, please click here.
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