Healthcare Science Week 2026: celebrating a year of impact across Wales

Published 16/03/2026

Healthcare Science Week 2026 provides an opportunity to recognise the vital contribution healthcare science professionals make to patient care, service improvement and innovation across NHS Wales.

Over the past year, the Healthcare Science Cymru programme at Health Education and Improvement Wales, has continued to strengthen the profession through collaboration, workforce development and innovation, supporting the delivery of high-quality patient-centred services.

Healthcare Science Career Framework

A major milestone this year was the launch of the NHS Wales Healthcare Science Career Framework, a national resource developed through the Healthcare Science Network. The framework provides a clear overview of career pathways, role descriptions and service areas across more than 30 professions and 50 service areas, supporting workforce planning, education and career progression across NHS Wales.

To support its implementation, Healthcare Science Cymru is delivering a series of national webinars focused on workforce planning, education pathways and applying the framework to service transformation. To sign up via our website: Healthcare Science Cymru - HEIW

Bringing the Health Science Community Together

The Wales Health Science Conference 2025: Building a Sustainable NHS, Shaping the Future Together brought together healthcare science professionals, leaders and partners from across Wales. Delivered in partnership with the Wales Scientific Advisory Committee, the event showcased research, innovation and collaboration, reinforcing the critical role healthcare science plays in shaping a sustainable NHS.

Developing Innovation and Leadership

Investment in the workforce has continued through initiatives including the Healthcare Science Service Transformation Fellowship, which supports professionals to explore new ideas, visit centres of excellence and lead service improvement projects.

Alongside this, the NHS Wales Healthcare Science Innovation Fellowship delivered with NIHR Devices for Dignity, offers healthcare science professionals a structured programme focused on developing innovative solutions to improve services and patient outcomes.

Celebrating Success Across Wales

Healthcare science teams and individuals have also been recognised nationally for their achievements.

The Advancing Healthcare Awards Cymru celebrated excellence across diagnostics, rehabilitation, digital innovation and workforce development within NHS Wales.

Teams have also achieved national recognition, including the Medical Illustration team at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, who won multiple awards at the Institute of Medical Illustrators Awards.

Innovation in biomedical science was also recognised at the Institute of Biomedical Science Awards, where the Clinical Biochemistry team at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board received the Sustainability Award for pioneering environmentally sustainable laboratory practices.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Engaging future talent has also been a priority. A new healthcare science interactive game was launched in partnership with Xplore! Science Discovery Centre in Wrexham, providing an exciting way to introduce young people to the wide range of careers within healthcare science.

Local primary school pupils were among the first to try the interactive experience, demonstrating how creative partnerships can inspire the next generation to explore careers in science and healthcare.

As Healthcare Science Week 2026 comes to a close, Healthcare Science Cymru continues to celebrate the innovation, dedication and expertise of the healthcare science workforce across Wales.

For more information please visit: https://heiw.nhs.wales/education-training/a-z/healthcare-science-cymru/