Health Science Services

There are over 50,000 healthcare scientists working in the NHS and public health services. Together they provide the scientific backbone of the NHS and their work underpins 80% of all diagnoses. Their role stretches across the whole innovation pathway from academic and translational research to patient-centred service transformation.

The healthcare science profession is uniquely placed to harness the UK’s world class healthcare research base, improve patient outcomes, and assist NHS England in its goal to accelerate innovation. Healthcare scientists work in more than 50 specialisms which can be categorised into four groupings:

1. laboratory (pathology) sciences
2. physiological sciences
3. medical physics and clinical engineering
4. bioinformatics

To promote Health care Scientist NHS England Established 15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) across England, established by in 2013 to spread innovation at pace and scale – improving health and generating economic growth.

Each AHSN works across a distinct geography serving a different population in each region. West Hertfordshire is in East of England network.