HEIW Highlights - 27 February 2026

Our priorities at Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) put people at the centre, supporting learning, leadership, wellbeing and future workforce supply across Wales. The highlights below show how this work is coming to life across HEIW.

Retention Together Action Kit of NHS Wales – this digital resource supports teams across NHS Wales to build compassionate workplaces where staff belong, thrive and stay. Strong retention safeguards skills and experience that can be passed to new recruits, boosts wellbeing and engagement, and underpins safe, high-quality patient care.

Raising Concerns Reflective Toolkit – Speaking up is crucial for a safe workplace, colleague wellbeing, and quality patient care. This digital resource helps healthcare students, trainees, and work-based learners feel confident and supported in raising concerns during their practice.

New Wales Specific Immunisation Guidance has been released. Developed with partners, it supports safe, consistent immunisation services in NHS Wales in line with the revised National Minimum Standards for Vaccination Training.

Funding Genomics Education – advances in genomics are shaping diagnosis, treatment, and care across all specialties. NHS Wales healthcare professionals can access HEIW funding for up to two standalone MSc modules in genomic medicine. Explore opportunities and guidance to apply on our website and help transform patient care for generations to come.

Calling all final-year Healthcare Science students. The National Student Survey (NSS) is open. Your feedback helps us understand your experience and shape the future of healthcare education. Please complete the survey: https://www.thestudentsurvey.com/

Your High Performing Compassionate Team training – the Velindre Experience 400+ health board colleagues now equipped to embed compassionate culture into everyday practice through our ‘Your High Performing Compassionate Team’ train-the-trainer workshops. Hear from Velindre colleagues as they share their experience from participating in the pilot workshop to delivering training themselves.

General Practice Nurse placements play a vital role in building the future primary care workforce. Since October 2023, more than 250 student nurses in Wales have completed a General Practice Nurse placement, gaining first-hand experience of Primary Care Nursing.  Find out more: https://heiw.nhs.wales/.../celebrating-excellence-across.../

Dental nurses are making a real difference to oral health in Wales. Through HEIW’s training programme, 23 dental nurses have already qualified as Oral Health Educators - supporting prevention, running nurse led clinics and helping patients look after their oral health with confidence.  Want to know more? https://heiw.nhs.wales/.../developing-the-prevention.../