The Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) is the single overarching body for the entire healthcare science workforce in the UK, working alongside specialist professional bodies to speak with one clear voice for healthcare science. The Institute worked closely with the Academy to extend its register, accredited by the Professional Standards Authority, to include medical illustrators along with several other healthcare science practitioners. This was achieved in 2017 and was a significant step for the profession underlining its commitment to maintaining standards, and to patient confidentiality and protection.
The Institute is a full member of the Academy’s Professional Council, and has representation on the Registration Council. The core objective of the Registration Council is to protect the public by mitigating the risks posed to service users/the public by the Healthcare Science workforce that is not regulated by statute. This is achieved through structures, processes and maintaining Registers for Healthcare Science workers who are not regulated by statute by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC, 2019).
Although the AHCS Accredited (Medical Illustration) Register is voluntary for individuals, it is recommended increasingly across the UK at a national level, and by employing organisations, service providers, commissioners and patients who are increasingly viewing registration as essential for showing commitment to the quality of practice.