2 They help to save lives and improve the quality of care for millions of people

3 The number is increasing as modern medicine becomes more complex and the demand for scientific support grows

4 Core services support the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of disease

5 There are over 50 different scientific disciplines that have at their core principles that range from physics to genetics, chemistry to engineering

6 The range of Healthcare Science jobs focus in three areas: life sciences; physiological sciences; clinical engineering and physical sciences

7 Life sciences jobs include:

• Anatomical Pathology – studies the causes of death and involves assisting doctors with post mortems
• Embryology and Andrology – deals with infertility such as IVF treatment and other programmes around reproduction
• Molecular genetics – examines samples of patients DNA to look for genetic abnormalities
• Microbiology – studies organisms – bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic – that cause infections

8 Physiological sciences jobs include:

• Sleep Physiology – studies patients who have problems sleeping i.e. in a condition known as sleep apnoea where people stop breathing when they are asleep. Scientists monitor patients and help identify treatment
• Cardiac Physiology – involves working with patients with known or suspected heart disease

9 Clinical engineering and physical sciences jobs include:

• Medical Illustration – provides photography, video, illustration and graphic design services to support patient care, teaching and research
• Nuclear Medicine – involves the use of radioactive substances for diagnosis and therapy
• Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Reconstruction – specialises in the reconstruction of jaws, faces and skulls in patients needing corrective treatment

Healthcare scientists work in hospitals, out in the community, in clinics, homes and sometimes in schools

They play a key role in diagnosing illness, monitoring the progress of treatment and managing long-term care. In fact, they even help to create life.

Healthcare Science Week, supported by the Department of Health, is intended to both acknowledge the important contribution made by all healthcare scientists in the NHS, and to educate young adults, the media and other NHS staff about the different roles played by healthcare scientists in healthcare today.

2005
FHCS: Celebrating Healthcare Science Week
NHS Careers campaign 2005
Events preview
NHS Careers Information pack
Events listing

2004
What happened in 2004
Resource pack