Centralised government funding support for NHS clinical academics

The Health Education England (HEE)-London Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) post-doctoral bridging scheme 2022 group present a debate exploring contemporary issues in clinical academia. The intention of this debate series is to explore the value, capabilities and capacity of healthcare focused research.

This debate will address the question: Should centralised government funding support, through salary provision, the careers of all clinical academics within the NHS?

The motion ‘This house believes that centralised government funding should support, through salary provision, the careers of all clinical academics within the NHS’, will be explored through lively debate, with in-depth arguments presented for and against the motion. We invite you to attend the debate and be part of the discussion!

This free virtual event will be of interest to all researchers, clinicians and members of the public.

Our debate panel includes...

For:

• Dr Matthew Alders, Deputy Ward Manager, Acute Admissions Ward, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
• Dr Ian Simcock, Clinical Academic Radiographer / Honorary Senior Research Associate, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Against:

• Dr Daniel Hadfield, Critical Care Nursing Research Fellow, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust / Honorary Lecturer, King’s College London
• Dr Sarah Collins, Cystic Fibrosis Specialist Dietician, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust

Chaired by: Dr Yat Tsang, Consultant Therapeutic Radiographer, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre / Associate Professor (Clinical Academic Careers) at LSBU.

This event will be delivered via Zoom and you will receive the joining instructions the day before the event takes place.

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Biographies

Dr Yat Tsang - Yat is employed as a consultant therapeutic radiographer - the clinical and technical expert leading the specialised radiotherapy service at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. In addition, he holds the position of Associate Professor (Clinical Academic Careers) at London South Bank University to support the delivery of clinical-academic career provision for healthcare professionals outside of medicine within the Institute of Health and Social Care.

Yat is a senior member of National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Radiotherapy Trials QA Group with experience in designing and implementing QA programmes for NIHR clinical trials. His executive committee memberships of UK Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy consortium and National Cancer Research Institute Clinical and Translational Radiotherapy Research Working Group have enabled evidence-based practice and research to be introduced into clinical practice.

Dr Matthew Alders - Matt Alders is a Deputy Ward Manager on the Acute Admissions Ward at St Thomas’ Hospital. He has worked as a nurse in Acute Medical Admission units for seven years. He completed a PhD in Nursing Research at KCL in 2019. His research interests are centred around patient safety, advancing Resilient Healthcare Theory and understanding complex sociotechnical systems. He is passionate about developing Clinical Academic Careers in Nursing.

Dr Sarah Collins - Sarah is a cystic fibrosis specialist dietitian. She has worked at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals with adults who have cystic fibrosis for over 25 years. Through her work she has gained knowledge and expertise in many clinical areas and has a particular interest in the management of cystic fibrosis diabetes. Sarah was awarded a HEE/NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship in 2016 and completed her PhD, at King’s College London, in 2020. Her research developed an evidence-based self-management education programme for people with cystic fibrosis diabetes.

She is currently co-chair of the European CF Nutrition Group and research officer for the British Dietetic Association Cystic Fibrosis Specialist Group. Sarah has held many expert roles on cystic fibrosis committees and stakeholder group, currently this includes member of ESPEN-ESPAGEN-ECFS nutritional care for infants, children and adults with cystic fibrosis guideline committee.

Dr Daniel Hadfield - Dan Hadfield is a Critical Care Nurse Research Fellow at King’s College Hospital, an honorary lecturer at King’s College London and one of 70 UK senior research leaders on the National Institute for Health Research 70@70 programme supporting nurses & midwives towards clinical academic careers. Prior to these appointments, he held an NIHR Doctoral Fellowship and completed his PhD at KCL in 2019.

Dan has thirteen years of experience in critical care nursing including bedside, managerial and research delivery roles. His research interests are respiratory physiology and mechanical ventilation in critically ill adult patients.

Dr Ian Simcock - Ian Simcock has worked clinically for over 25 years as a diagnostic radiographer, with 14 years research experience using cross-sectional imaging in oncology and post-mortem applications. He has recently completed an NIHR CDRF using micro-CT for post-mortem fetal imaging following miscarriage at the UCL Institute of Child Health / Great Ormond Street Hospital and NIHR BRC. He is now undertaking a post-doctoral fellowship funded by Health Education England.

He serves on the Society of Radiographers Research Group, directing national radiographic research policy and assessing grants through the College of Radiographers Industry Partnership Scheme (CoRIPS), whilst also serving on the International Advisory Panel of the Editorial Board of Radiography Journal.

He is a keen advocate for developing Clinical Academic Careers for Allied Health Professionals and Nursing and is developing his own career as well as mentoring others along this pathway.