New NHS Wales Healthcare Science Career Framework now available
Published 21/7/25
A helpful guide that explains the various job opportunities and career pathways in healthcare science has been launched today by the Healthcare Science Programme at Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW). The NHS Wales Healthcare Science Framework aims to promote awareness, accessibility, and progression within the healthcare science profession.
The framework provides comprehensive guidance that supports workforce development, multidisciplinary collaboration and the delivery of high-quality patient care across NHS Wales. It brings together key information on education, training, and career progression to help individuals navigate and advance within the profession and supports HEIW's strategic objectives to develop a skilled, sustainable, and adaptable workforce that meets the evolving needs of the healthcare system.
Sarah Bant, Associate Director of Healthcare Science Workforce Transformation said
“We are proud to have un-paralleled provision for education, training and career progression for all our healthcare science professions in NHS Wales – there is no bias by professional area, career route or registration body, all are funded and valued equally and fully.
“This has enabled us to develop career pathways that detail starting points, registration, roles and progression; these have been welcomed by our many national professional bodies. Combined with personal narratives from the professions themselves, the level of information that this handbook provides is the first of its kind.
“The healthcare science professions are key to enabling the future NHS Wales, and this can be realised now with full understanding of their value and strengths. I look forward to transformation moving at pace as health boards and trusts review and reflect on their workforce, and as the profession themselves ensure that they are fully accessing the opportunities at their feet.”
Vicki Heath, Chief Healthcare Science Officer continued
“The Healthcare Science Workforce spans more than 30 professions across 50 specialisms, contributing to 95% of patient pathways. As set out in the Welsh Government 'Healthcare Science in NHS Wales' Looking Forward the profession is vital
to all areas of healthcare planning and delivery in NHS Wales. The HEIW NHS Wales Healthcare Science Career Framework enables those working with the healthcare science workforce to understand the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills that are prevalent in the professions. For those
working in healthcare science, the Framework helps support the professions by providing clarity of pathways and opportunities available to them.”
The NHS Wales Healthcare Science Framework serves as a comprehensive, one-stop resource, compiling all relevant information for the intended audience it has been designed for, such as:
- Healthcare science professionals: Answers questions about education, funding, and career pathways in NHS Wales.
- Understanding the profession: Offers role descriptions and career progression routes across 30+ professions and 50+ service areas, from graduate to consultant level.
- Supporting workforce transformation: Helps planners develop the healthcare science workforce based on NHS Wales service needs.
With Welsh Government's full support of the NHS Wales Healthcare Science Framework, the aim is that it will be used as a central hub to enhance career development pathways, foster multidisciplinary collaboration, and drive workforce transformation to meet the evolving healthcare needs of Wales.