National Occupational Standards in clinical embryology: implementation in 2005?

In 2001 the UK Department of Health initiated the National Occupational Standards Project in Healthcare Science. This project incorporates the 43 disciplines of healthcare science with the aim of developing a framework for competent performance in all areas of healthcare science, thereby standardising the delivery of services in this area. The whole of the project relies on the concept of function, and using the process of functional analysis each discipline is broken down into key work areas. The standards are derived from a further breakdown of these key work areas. Each standard gives expected requirements for the competent performance of the function, along with the relevant knowledge required. It is envisaged that the implementation of National Occupational Standards will ensure that individuals performing healthcare science functions throughout the UK, whether they are healthcare scientists themselves or not, will be performing these functions to an adequate standard. Since work began on the project 63 standards, and associated assessment guidance, have been drafted the whole of healthcare science. The National Occupational Standards are due to be implemented in 2005 by Skills for Health, an organisation that defines and monitors skills in healthcare both in the NHS and the private sector.