Healthcare Science Week to raise awareness across the region   

The University of Essex’s Centre for Healthcare Science is working with partners to promote the importance of healthcare science, develop and inspire the NHS scientific workforce of the future and bring professionals together to network and celebrate their contribution to the nation’s health and wellbeing. 

Many people don’t realise the vital role of healthcare science in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease and in protecting the wellbeing of the UK’s population. The work of healthcare scientists underpins 80% of all diagnoses, and science and technology in healthcare are now vital to modern patient care. 

During Healthcare Science Week from Monday 10 March to Sunday 16 March, the Centre for Healthcare Science will be supporting events across Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to raise awareness and highlight the diverse roles within this area. 

Highlights of the week will include a Community of Practice Networking Event at the University of Essex to bring together healthcare scientists representing 40 scientific disciplines from across the region and the University’s first healthcare science themed Primary Science Fun Day for school children supported by academics from the School of Life Sciences at Essex.

Professor Victoria Joffe, Dean of Health and Care Partnerships, said: “The University of Essex is very proud to be a centre for healthcare science in the East of England and be playing a growing role in developing the healthcare science workforce of the future.  

“Healthcare science week is an important event to raise awareness of healthcare science. It will be wonderful to bring together people working in this sector for our networking event and seeing how young people enjoy being scientists and participating in experiments at our Colchester Campus as part of our Science Fun Day.”

The Community of Practice Networking Event on Wednesday 12 March is being organised in partnership with Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board and will be an opportunity for University and NHS staff to connect with fellow healthcare science professionals to share knowledge and experiences, while also celebrating the impact of the healthcare science professions. 

The event will include a networking lunch, updates on the Centre for Healthcare Science, a healthcare science career journey talk, a cancer research presentation by Dr Greg Brooke, and a discussion on how we can all inspire the future generation to consider a career in healthcare science. 

Other events being organised as part of Healthcare Science Week include a Human Library at Suffolk New College where students will get the chance to chat to healthcare science professionals, a range of career sessions, a CPD webinar for teachers and advisers and a subject taster session on cancer research at Colchester Institute. 

Over 50,000 healthcare scientists work in the NHS and other public health organisations, and significant growth is required to meet the expected needs of the future. The University plays an important role in providing education in subjects leading to careers in healthcare science, encouraging school pupils to consider healthcare courses and roles through outreach activities, and offering continuing professional development to support the current workforce.

Professor Berne Ferry, Professor of Healthcare Science, said: “The Centre for Healthcare Science is excited to be working with so many partners to offer people the chance to find out more about how healthcare science changes people’s lives and the rewarding careers on offer.” 

Book to attend the Community of Practice Networking Event