IPEM and IHEEM launch UK-wide Clinical Engineering Survey
IPEM and IHEEM have joined forces to launch a national survey to build a comprehensive evidence base for Clinical and Medical Engineering services across the UK.
Clinical and Medical Engineering services are fundamental to patient safety, clinical outcomes and patient experience. As healthcare becomes increasingly technology-enabled, the safe and effective management, integration and adoption of medical equipment, devices and digital technologies is essential to delivering high-quality care and supporting future innovation. These services also play an important role in translating technological research and innovation into clinical practice and realising its benefits for patients.
However, there is currently no comprehensive UK-wide picture of how these critical services are structured, staffed, managed, governed and delivered across healthcare settings.
Through this joint initiative, IPEM and IHEEM aim to better understand current service arrangements and how we can collectively support our professional communities, patient safety and service quality across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
What will the survey cover?
The survey examines seven key areas:
- Organisational structure and service scope
- Professional scope and responsibilities
- Workforce, training and career development
- Professional registration and recognition
- Service delivery models and operational pressures
- Governance, safety and assurance
- Future priorities, benchmarking and use of data
The findings will help IPEM and IHEEM identify and share good practice; explore opportunities to strengthen governance, accountability and professional recognition; support our members' development; and better demonstrate the contribution of Clinical and Medical Engineering to healthcare innovation and service improvement.
Importantly, the survey is intended to establish the evidence first. It does not presume that one service model or organisational structure is appropriate for every healthcare organisation. Instead, it will help identify variations in current arrangements and whether these present opportunities to improve patient safety, service effectiveness and innovation.
Have your say - survey closes 18 December 2026
IPEM and IHEEM are calling on Heads of Clinical and Medical Engineering services across all four UK nations to participate.
We are seeking one coordinated response from each healthcare organisation, reflecting the full breadth of its Clinical and Medical Engineering services, including EBME, Medical Physics Engineering and other specialist functions.
Heads of Service & Departments are encouraged to engage relevant colleagues across engineering services, workforce, senior management and governance to ensure their organisation's response is comprehensive.
The survey is designed to be completed in stages, allowing you to save your progress and return to it as you gather information from colleagues. You do not need to complete it in one sitting.
The deadline for responses is Friday 18 December 2026.
Complete the National Clinical Engineering Survey
What happens next?
The findings will be analysed in early 2027, with a national report planned for early Q2 2027.
The report will identify key themes, examples of good practice and priorities for further consideration. It will provide IPEM and IHEEM with a stronger evidence base to support our members, strengthen professional practice and contribute to national discussions on patient safety, service quality, healthcare technology and innovation.
Your contribution matters. The stronger the evidence from across all four nations, the better equipped both institutes will be to represent our professional communities and identify opportunities for future collaboration and improvement.
If you have any queries in relation to the completion of the survey, please contact office@ipem.ac.uk.