The new programmes are aimed at the gaps at level 6 and level 7 – providing workforce to address the current workforce deficit, to backfill positions opened as existing practitioners enter advanced training in Respiratory and Sleep, and to staff the Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs).
The establishment of CDCs is ongoing as part of the transformation of NHS diagnostic services. They will deliver additional, digitally connected, diagnostic capacity in the community, in as few visits as possible, enabling an accurate and fast diagnosis. To date there are approximately 160 CDCs in England, delivering over 1 million additional diagnostic tests. All CDCs will include as a minimum a range of different physiological science investigations, with a particular focus on cardiac and respiratory tests.
Covid-19 related reduction in throughput (due to cough induced pulmonary function and AGP risk) and increase in requirement for diagnostics due to Covid-19 and long-Covid has added to the waiting times. These programmes address the recommendations from the Richards’ review which included the development of CDCs and investment in workforce to address these issues. Band 6 scientists are required urgently and need to be rapidly trained to perform respiratory and sleep services; this model allows for them to be undertaking services in some areas whilst training. Anticipated results will include a reduction in waiting times, clearing the backlog, and reducing Covid-19 risk by remote monitoring. To train the required extra staff, we propose 2 new training courses to deliver the uplift in tests and to staff the Community Diagnostic Centres.
Graduate Diploma in Respiratory Science
The content for this programme has been derived from the Practitioner Training Programme (PTP) BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Sleep Sciences (2016/2017) curriculum.
The PTP is a full-time, 3-year, undergraduate degree incorporating placements in departments to enable work-place training allowing students to develop the necessary skills and experience to work as a Healthcare Science Practitioner on graduation. As the numbers of trainees completing the PTP is sub-optimal, many departments take on graduates of cognate sciences and train them in-house in the skills they need; the trainee then applies for equivalence to become voluntary registered as a Practitioner. This programme provides a formalised approach to this.
The new Graduate Diploma in respiratory science includes clinical and professional modules from the PTP (together with the appropriate work-based training) within 1 year, allowing a fast, quality assured scheme up-skilling trainees to become equivalent to the PTP, including voluntary registration. Increasing the number of Respiratory Physiologists at practitioner level would also allow further development of current experienced Respiratory Physiologists to support efforts to increase and retain the workforce at more advanced levels.
Programme content
- Professional Practice
- Instrumentation, Signal Processing, and Imaging
- Respiratory and Sleep Physiology
- Respiratory and sleep Physiology Work-based training
Entry requirements
Candidates must have a 1st, 2:1 or 2:2 undergraduate honours degree or an integrated master’s degree in a pure or applied science subject relevant to the specialism, or equivalent. The degree must include Human Anatomy and Physiology and research skills. Due to the extensive variation in degrees it is not possible to provide a definitive list of relevant degrees, but the most appropriate degrees are shown below.
- Physiology
- Biology or Human Biology
- Sports Science (if significant scientific content)
- Biomedical science
- Other Healthcare degree including Nursing, Radiography, Physiotherapy, Paramedical science
- Forensic science
- Other degree with significant scientific content, particularly human anatomy and physiology
Post Graduate Certificate in Sleep Medicine
The Post Graduate Certificate in Sleep Medicine is a new programme designed to support the delivery of services by different staff in different settings, by educating colleagues in the underpinning science to deliver a clinical role in a chronically understaffed specialism.
The post graduate sleep medicine programme provides advanced integrated sleep training to a wide range of healthcare professionals including healthcare scientists, doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. The programme ensures trainees receive both academic and work-based training to enable rapid expansion of sleep science services to meet the recommendations of the Long-Term Plan, the Richards’ review, and the GIRFT report 2021; Recommendation 8: Improve care for patients in sleep medicine by addressing delays in diagnosis of sleep problems and CPAP initiation, together with resolving gaps in infrastructure.
This programme has been developed to enable healthcare professionals with transferable skills and knowledge to up-skill in sleep medicine. It will provide the additional skills and knowledge candidates need to improve care for patients by addressing delays in diagnosis of sleep problems and Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) initiation. Alongside the academic learning, healthcare professionals will experience work-based training to apply this knowledge.
Programme content
- Clinical Assessment
- Clinical Investigations
- Respiratory sleep disorders
- Non-Respiratory sleep disorders
Entry requirements
Candidates will already be employed within a Healthcare setting and must meet the entry requirements set by the academic provider for the programme. These are a 1st, or 2:1 undergraduate honours degree or an integrated master’s degree in a pure or applied science subject relevant to the specialism, a healthcare subject, or equivalent. Exceptionally and in agreement with the academic provider a 2:2 honours degree may be accepted if accompanied by suitable experience. The degree should include Human Anatomy and Physiology and research skills. Due to the extensive variation in degrees it is not possible to provide a definitive list of relevant degrees, but the most appropriate degrees are shown below.
- Physiology
- Biology or Human Biology
- Sports Science (if significant scientific content)
- Biomedical science
- Other healthcare degree including Nursing, Radiography, Physiotherapy, Paramedical science, Medicine, Forensic science
- Other degree with significant scientific content, particularly human anatomy and physiology