Radiography
St Mary’s Hospital has a newly opened dedicated acute imaging centre containing Europe’s first GE V750 3T MRI system and a 256-slice CT. The centre also provides high specification ultrasound, allowing access to all three complementary modalities in one fully-staffed location.

The centre is designed to provide early access to cutting-edge cross-sectional imaging for acute, trauma and critical care patients. The centre will increase the proportion of patients having rapid access to sophisticated cross-sectional imaging, including general trauma imaging, vascular imaging with assessment of cerebral vessels, peripheral arteries and coronary arteries, as well as brain and solid organ perfusion.

Postgraduate level training is also available to senior staff working in MRI, CT and angiography where a high level of clinical expertise is expected from the band 7 and above radiographic staff.

Support is given to all staff in line with PDP’s in addition to which the department offers clinical placements, clinical assessments, and access to learning resources to support  nuclear medicine and ultrasound-specific 

postgraduate training, including a training post for ultrasound.

The role of healthcare scientists
The healthcare science workforce is formed of around 45 specialisms employing 52,000 staff in England, representing about five percent of the total healthcare workforce. It can be split into three recognised divisions: life sciences, physiological sciences, and physical sciences and engineering.

While the common perception of this workforce may be staff in white coats working in the laboratories of large teaching hospitals, in fact, this staff group provides a wide range of patient and health services across a range of care settings. The title healthcare scientist encompasses those working in audiology, biomedical engineering, radiopharmacy, cardiology and physiology, to name just a few.

Implementation of the MSC programme within the Trust
Our Trust in partnership with Imperial College London is one of a number of NHS employing organisations and networks that are testing aspects of MSC out as early adopters of elements of the programme. 

The specific aims of the early adopters’ project will be to:
1. Evidence the benefits of MSC
2. Validate the new curricula
3. Inform costs and modelling
4. Workforce development – implement new roles in new contexts
5. Employment issues – work though employment issues arising from the new career framework
6. Help develop and test out the training infrastructure

Pharmacy

Postgraduate training

Pre-registration training
On leaving pharmacy school with a degree it is compulsory for those graduates wishing to practice as a pharmacist to complete a year of pre-registration experience. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has 20 places available for graduates wishing to undertake this training. The training programme is well supported by experienced tutors in order to assist the graduate attain the skills and knowledge required for registration as a pharmacist.

The aim of the pre-registration pharmacist training programme at the Trust is to develop pharmacists with a patient-centred approach to delivering hospital pharmacy services and a good understanding of the roles of the multidisciplinary team members. As well as providing a strong foundation of clinical knowledge and medicines use, training will focus on problem solving, communication skills and self-directed learning. This programme will equip the trainee with the skills and knowledge necessary to become a competent hospital pharmacist with a strong patient focus, while instilling the Trust values.

Postgraduate diploma and master’s courses
The main focus of the postgraduate study for qualified pharmacists at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is to support the pharmacists working in the Trust to enhance their knowledge in order to perform their role better. Postgraduate study may occur at several stages in the pharmacists’ career, starting with the newly qualified pharmacists.

The aim of the training for the band 6 pharmacists at the Trust is to build on the skills gained through the pre-registration year to provide an efficient, safe and patient-focussed hospital pharmacy service. This will concentrate on the key competencies required by further developing self-directed learning alongside a formal postgraduate training programme. The broad skill base will encompass clinical, personal and managerial competencies including decision making, prioritisation, time management and team working. It will equip the pharmacist with the confidence, ability and knowledge of medicines use to prepare for a specialist role, while instilling the Trust values.

All new band 6 pharmacists are enrolled onto the JPB Postgraduate Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice in order to equip practitioners with the core skills and competencies they require to provide pharmaceutical care in a practice setting. The course works on a philosophy of student-centred workplace learning. The ethos and culture of the course is to enhance and develop self-reliance and an adult approach to learning in support of continuing professional development.

The curriculum is delivered through a consortium of higher education institutions (HEIs) working in collaboration with NHS specialist pharmacy services.

The majority of the clinical and practitioner-based skills learning are work-based, using mentoring of experienced tutors and facilitators.

Progress is guided through the use of personal learning plans (such as a Record of In-service Training and Assessment) agreed between the student practitioners and their practice tutor.

After the core competencies relating to the foundation level are achieved, students are supported to continue their studies to obtain a diploma. This may be through continuing the above course or by transferring onto alternative courses offered by other pharmacy schools. This may include postgraduate diplomas offered by Queen’s University Belfast, Keele University, John Moores University, Liverpool or Bath University. After completion of the postgraduate diploma students have an opportunity to continue to study for a Master of Science (MSc).

Non-medical prescribing
In order to maximise on the skills of our experienced pharmacists there is the opportunity to become qualified as an Independent Non-Medical Prescriber. Pharmacists undertake a university-run course which is supplemented by workplace learning. Completion of this qualification enables the pharmacist to prescribe for patients within their area of expertise.

Postgraduate students
In addition to the educational opportunities provided to staff who work in the Trust, we also enable students studying for the MSc in Clinical Pharmacy International Practice and Policy at the School of Pharmacy, University of London to benefit from the skills within the department. The course is designed specifically for overseas pharmacists wanting to develop clinical expertise, and comprises of taught sessions within the university and clinical placements. Those students who undertake their research element at our Trust have the opportunity to carry out a project under the supervision of clinical pharmacists.

Therapy services including: dietetics, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy Research skills workshops
Imperial College Healthcare’s Therapy services run six research skills workshops which have been designed specifically for therapies and nursing staff, although they are also open to other disciplines. The programme covers a range of topics that are necessary to underpin evidence-based practice by enabling the use of research findings, and to enable staff to take the first steps in organising their own projects.

These include:
• searching the literature
• critical appraisal understanding statistics
• using questionnaires
• choosing reliable outcome measures,
• disseminating your research.

In 2011 these half day courses will be combined into a full three-day course run in July, as well as the development of a new critical appraisal e-learning package.

Masters in Research: Clinical Research Design and Management
Therapy staff contribute to the new MRes in Clinical Research Design and Management, which creates a pathway into clinical research for nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals, enabling them to design and implement clinical research. The course provides a structured approach to developing the additional skills that are required to assist in the management of an existing clinical portfolio, develop one's own research portfolio, and to independently manage research projects.

Short courses
Therapy services organises short courses enabling staff and students from other institutions to attend specialised courses at the Trust. In 2011, the speech and language therapy department at Imperial College Healthcare NHS trust hosted a highly successful short course by internationally renowned expert in swallowing difficulty, Prof Susan Langmore from the USA. Over 70 delegates from the UK, Malta and Ireland attended. The course covered topics including evidence-based practice in the evaluation and treatment of swallowing difficulties arising from a number of different causes including stroke, degenerative neurological diseases and cancer. Delegates benefited from innovative electronic learning facilities provided by Imperial College London, allowing access to online lectures following course completion. Further short courses are planned on topics including the research in paediatric therapies and the management of spinal conditions.

Clinical academic training pathway for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals
The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) awards masters, doctoral and post-doctoral level awards to nurses and AHPs in order to develop research leaders of the future. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust’s therapy services have actively supported staff to apply for these prestigious awards. Our staff to date who have won an award include:

Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowships
• Liesl Wandrag, dietitian
• Margaret Coffey, speech and language therapist
• Seema Singh, dietitian

Masters in Research Scholarships
• Catharine Carlisle, occupational therapist
• Joseph Bradley, occupational therapist
• Stefan Tino Kulnik, physiotherapist
• Bill Tahtis, occupational therapist
• Kate Harrall, speech and language therapist

Visit the National Institute for Health Research for further details.

Master’s level study
Therapy services supports its staff to study for master’s level awards where appropriate for their role and professional development. All staff undertaking master’s level study are encouraged to carry out a project which will enhance the clinical service within the Trust.