New Chief Healthcare Science Officer for Wales appointed
Penodi'r Prif Swyddog Gwyddor Gofal Iechyd cyntaf i Gymru
Victoria Heath has been appointed as Wales’ first Chief Healthcare Science Officer.
Victoria will advise the Welsh Government on the most effective ways to use healthcare science to deliver improved healthcare, including modernising and introducing new diagnostic technologies and treatments.
She will support and represent more than 50 different roles within the healthcare science professions in Wales.
Victoria comes from the NHS’ ME-5 Pathology Network, where she was responsible for the development and implementation of workforce initiatives.
She has worked in the NHS since she was 18, starting her career as a biomedical scientist trainee in Oxfordshire, and registered as a biomedical scientist in 2010 and a clinical scientist in 2023. She has experience in healthcare science roles across the UK and was deployed to Sierra Leone in 2015 to respond to the West African Ebola Outbreak.
Victoria is also an award-winning science communicator and works to raise the profile of careers in healthcare science.
Speaking about her new appointment, she said:
“I'm honoured to be appointed to the role of Chief Healthcare Science Officer at the Welsh Government and to work alongside the 7,000 healthcare scientists who contribute to healthcare across Wales.
“Healthcare scientists are a vital part of the patient pathway and I’m excited for this opportunity to raise their profile.”
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles said:
“I am delighted to welcome Victoria as Wales’ first dedicated Chief Healthcare Science Officer.
“Her wealth of experience in healthcare science will be instrumental in delivering better health outcomes for patients in Wales through the development and adoption of innovative new diagnostics and treatments. I look forward to working with her.”
Victoria will take up her role in March 2025.
Notes to editors
Notes to editors
- Healthcare Science has over 50 science professions across laboratory, imaging (radiography), physiological, physiological, bioinformatics, physical and biomedical engineering.
- Healthcare scientists make up 5% of the workforce in NHS Wales but are involved in over 80% of all clinical decisions.
- The Chief Healthcare Science Officer (CHSO) is a new role that has been created to strengthen the use of scientific advice, research and evidence in Health and Social Care. The role was originally part of the responsibilities of the Chief Scientific Advisor for Health (CSAH) but the increasing use of innovative diagnostics and treatments and the leading role healthcare science plays in this has necessitated the development of this dedicated post.
- The CHSO will join the other chief advisors (Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Chief Allied Health Advisor, Chief Dental Officer, Chief Optometric Advisor, Chief Midwifery Officer, Senior Medical Officers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officers) in leading their professions in Welsh Government, alongside the Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Medical Officer.