Back the Workforce to Deliver says IPEM as it Contributes to the NHS Workforce Plan
IPEM has responded to the Government's Call for Evidence on its forthcoming Workforce Plan.
Our response, collated by our members with expertise across Medical Physics, Clinical Engineering and Clinical Technology professions, highlighted the importance of the MPCE profession.
In particular, IPEM recommended:
Digital Transformation and Innovation
Make MPCE expertise integral to all NHS digital and AI-enabled programmes, ensuring safe, evidence-based implementation.
Invest in AI-assisted MRI, automated radiotherapy planning, and molecular radiotherapy, technologies already proven to increase productivity and reduce waiting lists.
Develop a unified national care record with MPCE leadership to ensure system interoperability, data quality, and patient safety.
Ensure all new digital and diagnostic technologies are validated, quality-assured, and governed by MPCE professionals to maintain clinical safety and regulatory compliance.
Workforce Planning and Training
Treat MPCE as a distinct, strategic workforce within NHS workforce models, not subsumed under generic Healthcare Science.
Expand national training numbers and diversify routes through apprenticeships, modular qualifications, and enhanced Clinical Technologist pathways.
Provide funded CPD, job plans, and protected education time equivalent to other clinical professions.
Urgently address critical shortages of Medical Physics Experts (MPEs), Radiation Protection Advisers (RPAs) and Clinical Engineers to avoid service risk.
Align workforce planning with the growing demand for AI, data science, and community-based care delivery, ensuring MPCE capacity keeps pace with innovation.
Community and Patient-Centred Innovation
Empower Clinical Engineers to lead the safe deployment of medical devices and digital monitoring technologies in community and home settings.
Support patient-facing digital tools, developed with MPCE expertise. to enable personalised, preventative care.
Use population-level diagnostic and imaging data, interpreted by Medical Physicists, to improve early detection and reduce health inequalities.
Build regional partnerships with academia and industry to accelerate innovation and develop local MPCE-led capability.
Culture, Leadership and Retention
Establish MPCE leadership roles at senior Trust, ICS and national levels to guide policy, safety, and innovation.
Implement job planning and funded CPD frameworks to retain and develop staff.
Embed Safety-II, Civility Saves Lives and Learning from Excellence practices to strengthen safety culture and wellbeing.
Celebrate and promote MPCE excellence as part of a national culture of scientific leadership in healthcare delivery.
IPEM Chief Executive Gill Collinson commented:
“IPEM is the voice of the MPCE profession and a key partner for policymakers. It is crucial that the perspectives of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering are fully represented in the development of this Workforce Plan, and IPEM is leading the way to ensure they are.”