IPEM Statement on the Appointment of the New Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

IPEM welcomes the appointment of James Murray, the incoming Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, following the resignation of Wes Streeting.

We look forward to working constructively with the new Secretary of State to support the delivery of safe, effective and sustainable Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering services.

We urge continued focus on several key priorities where physics and engineering professionals play a vital role:

• Addressing long-standing workforce shortages in Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering. Strengthening and expanding training pathways, alongside supporting departments to invest in workforce development, is essential to ensuring sake, resilient and high-quality services for patients.
• Supporting environmental sustainability across healthcare provision. Medical Physicists, Clinical Engineers and Clinical Technologists will continue to play a key role in reducing the carbon impact of medical technologies and healthcare infrastructure, while maintaining high standards of patient care and safety.
• Ensuring AI is implemented safely and in the interest of patients. The continued adoption of AI across healthcare services requires robust governance, proportionate regulatory frameworks and meaningful involvement of technical and clinical experts - including Medical Physicists, Clinical Engineers and Clinical Technologists.

IPEM's Chief Executive, Gill Collinson, commented: "Delivering safe, effective and innovative care depends on sustained investment in Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering services and workforce capacity. IPEM stands ready to work constructively with the new Secretary of State and wider system to help translate these priorities into policy and practice."