Modernising Scientific Careers: MSC PTP Healthcare Science (Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy and Radiation Physics) at the University of Cumbria:

‘An Unexpected Journey’

An Unexpected Journey Starts: Challenges• Small cohorts from regional recruitment

challenges the viability of courses

• Regional Clinical Placement Capacity?

• Funding: why study PTP when you can do AHP courses and have everything paid for?

• Clinical Placement Costs?

• Loss of practitioner level clinical staff to STP programme

• Understandable concerns re recruited university students entering placement

• Academic skills challenges of students

“Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

An Unexpected Journey: The starting point

• Diagnostic Radiography provision since 1964

• Now third biggest provider in UK with extensive clinical placement network

• Extensive experience in complex clinical placement provision

• Post Graduate provision in Ultrasound and MRI

• Newly established Foundation Degree & BSc In Radiation Protection

• Excellent facilities with significant potential for further investment

Diagnostic

Radiography

US/MRI

Diagnostic

Radiography

US/MRI

Radiation ProtectionRadiation Protection

Current provision

Proposed new provision

Healthcare Science

Healthcare Science

Nuclear SecurityNuclear Security

Diagnostic

Radiography

US/MRI

Diagnostic

Radiography

US/MRI

Medical Physics

Technology

Medical Physics

Technology

Radiation ProtectionRadiation Protection

Nuclear SecurityNuclear Security

An Unexpected Journey: the way ahead

•Largely work based learning with single attendance weeks at university (see year planner) •Local/sub regional recruitment with employer/placement provider involvement

•Scope for employer support

•Maths & Physics bridging module

An Unexpected Journey: the way ahead

•Appoint an appropriately experienced & qualified medical physicist to lead programme (Sept-Oct 13)

•Development of course materials including distance learning

•Test proposed course delivery model with potential students and clinical placement providers

•Placement educator identification and training

•Work with stakeholders to identify sources of funding to support clinical placement costs/university costs/travel

‘It's just the usual; summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth.’ Balin

An Unexpected Journey: strengths of the team

•Extensive experience in running health programmes

•New IPL provision for 2013

•Developing good working relationships and strong support from stakeholders

•Infrastructure in place to support clinical placements

•Extensive experience in key areas e.g. RNI

•Team Values

Journey’s End

•A sustainable course with 20-30 students per cohort

• Jan 2014 start date

•Practitioners who are well prepared for their role and are likely to stay in it!

•A unit undertaking research and scholarship related to subject disciplines

•Alleviation of sector skills shortages

“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit