Information for trainees and supervisors
What are the chances? – Owen Driskell, Deputy HSST Training Programme Director
My wife and I took our two kids to Nepal this Easter break. We trekked through the rainforests of the Himalayan foothills to arrive at Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) in mixed weather (and after a fall of snow!). After several days up and down trails and steps, we were standing right below the 3000m south face. However, save the 150m drop to the glacier below, there was no sense of the scale of what was before us as the face was almost entirely enveloped in cloud. The following day our luck changed, and the clouds cleared for a fine view of the summit of the ‘8000er’ Annapurna 1, dramatically rising 4000m vertical from our location. With the vast south face taking up the majority of that, we were so close that we really could appreciate its enormity.
Our trek returned to the valleys, and over the next few days we wandered through the forests of rhododendron, listening to the sounds of this jungle environment, on a quest for a different perspective of the Annapurna massif from further away at Poon Hill. Most days we would escape the afternoon rain by starting early, but one day the rain started early too. We called in on one of the ‘tea houses’ you pass along the way. They had a stove going that we sat round, enabling us to dry off a little. After a little bite to eat the rain had eased a little. We emerged from the tea house eager to continue to our destination. Now you might think that through all this I was escaping work, but it was at that very moment an HSST introduced themselves to me! In a brief exchange I didn’t catch their name as we were eager to get the kids moving again. (My apologies! Get in touch if you get this. I’d be keen to know how your trek continued. Thanks for the tip off about the slippery trail!)
Our trek continued and we did achieve the different perspective we had aimed for. The broader view from Poon Hill, as spectacular as that from ABC but different. It encompassed another 8000er to the west and the ability to see more of the Annapurna massif we were at the centre of a few days previous, all in one go. Peak folding into peak and ridgelines laying upon one another into the distance east and west. Added to this was the knowledge of what lay between these two perspectives, based on the experience of having walked through it. All the valleys descended, the passes crossed, and additional little glimpses of snowy peaks caught as they appeared and disappeared along the way. We feel lucky to have gained this experience and through it had the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the place before returning to ‘civilisation’ to Pokhara, Kathmandu and then home.
Briefly reflecting on the coincidence of meeting a HSST, and looking for any excuse to play with new AI tools, I asked Copilot: “What are the chances of meeting a National School of Healthcare Science HSST in Nepal?” I might naively have been expecting some statistics, some corruption of my A Level understanding of the ecology capture recapture method maybe. It simply replied: “The chances of meeting a Higher Specialist Scientist Trainee (HSST) from the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) in Nepal are quite low. The HSST program is primarily based in the United Kingdom and is designed to train healthcare scientists within the NHS. There is no specific information indicating that this program has a presence in Nepal.”
Perfectly reasonable answer, but it did make me think about the limitations of current AI tools. They are only as good as the question. Copilot only explored the reasons an HSST might be in Nepal, given that was the only label given to it in the question. But, HSSTs and School staff for that matter, are people too. People with many reasons to do many things other than the HSST programme. Something that wouldn’t take too much of a leap of insight to realise. Insight that Copilot wasn’t given.
HSST is about developing insight. Insight to look beyond what is in the question and to look for a deeper understanding of what is going on based on experience. To not just answer the question, as Copilot did, but to examine it, to extrapolate and come up with fuller, more meaningful, responses. HSSTs can use their experience and perspectives, gained along the way, to demonstrate their deeper understanding with HSSTs hopefully outstripping AI for a long time to come.
Further prompt: “Given that HSSTs are people as well as HSSTs, how might that affect the chances?”
Copilot in seconds: “You’re right! HSSTs are individuals who might travel for various reasons, such as conferences, research collaborations, or personal vacations. This human aspect could slightly increase the chances of encountering an HSST in Nepal, especially if they are involved in international projects or have personal connections in the region.
However, considering the primary focus of the HSST program is within the UK, the likelihood remains relatively low. If you do meet someone from the HSST program in Nepal, it would likely be due to their personal or professional travels rather than the program itself being active there. Have you had any interesting encounters with professionals from other countries?”
Me: “Yikes!”
Prepare for your IAPS with our video guides
The Independent Assessment of Professional Skills (IAPS) is the professional assessment for non-life scientist HSSTs. (Life Scientists undergo assessments to attain Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists.)
To help trainees that need an IAPS (trainees from Physical, Physiological and Bioinformatics Science themes) the School has produced a number of short video guides. As well as helping to prepare HSSTs in the run up to the IAPS towards the end of the programme, it is recommended that all HSSTs requiring an IAPS, their supervisors and those involved in supporting the HSST’s training, review these videos at an early stage to aid in training planning. The videos available are:
The IAPS showcase preparation guide
The IAPS showcase module in OneFile
Leaders Plus NHS Fellowship Programme for Working Parents
The Leaders Plus NHS Fellowship is a supportive leadership career development programme for NHS leaders with children who are ambitious in their careers.
Too often, parents feel they must choose between an ambitious career and enjoying their young children. Too many see their career and earnings stall after having children even though their ambitions remain.
Designed specifically for NHS clinical and non-clinical staff who are passionate about career development and have young children, the Leaders Plus NHS Fellowship Programme supports parents working in the health service to progress at work into senior leadership positions whilst also balancing commitments as a parent.
Find out more about the NHS Fellowship Programme for Working Parents
Are you interested in sharing your practice?
If you or your network have developed practice that you feel could be valuable to share with your peers, please express an interest in sharing your practice via the form linked to below.
Express an interest in sharing your practice
Information for supervisors
HSST Induction 2025
We will be holding the HSST Induction Day online this year via Teams on Wednesday 8 October. Timings and agenda are still to be confirmed. National School staff will also be present and involved in the face-to-face induction day at MAHSE.
Trainees joining the HSST will need to attend this key event as part of their induction to the training programme and will be invited once interviews have been completed and posts filled.
Missed a previous edition of the HSST Monthly Memo?
You will find previous copies of the HSST Monthly Memo on our website.