Academy for Healthcare Science
The Healthcare Science workforce is an essential part of the clinical team with the potential to do real harm to patients should things go wrong.
Members of the Healthcare Science workforce perform a range of different roles depending on their qualifications, experience, and level of specialisation. Although the workforce comprises approximately 5% of the overall healthcare workforce in the UK, their work underpins 80% of all diagnoses as well as therapeutic interventions such as radiotherapy. It has been estimated that more than 65,000 individuals make up the Healthcare Science workforce.
The Academy for Healthcare Science Registration Council’s core purpose is to reduce this risk and aim to keep patients and the public safe. This is achieved through structures, processes and maintaining Registers for Healthcare Science workers who are not regulated by statute by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Applying to join the AHCS register is customarily good practice for individuals, and is seen at a national level and by employing organisations, service providers, commissioners and patients who are increasingly viewing registration, as essential for showing commitment to the quality of practice.
The AHCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) and launched in December 2014 for Healthcare Science Practitioners. The Accredited Register now consists of four parts; it was extended to include Higher Specialist Scientists in October 2015, Medical Illustrators in February 2017 and Clinical Physiologists in June 2017.
Accreditation by the PSA demonstrates that the register has achieved their high standards in governance, standard-setting, education and training, management of the register, complaints handling and information.
APTS who apply for the AHCS Accredited Register demonstrate commitment to maintaining competency and high standards of conduct, providing assurance for employers, patients and the public. Being on the Register also helps to strengthen the profession as a whole, helping the Academy to raise the profile of all healthcare science professionals and their significant contribution to patient care, clinical excellence and healthcare advances.
