Health Education and Improvement Wales - HEIW

23/12/2025

🎓 Celebrating Wales’ Clinical Photography trailblazers!

The Class of 2025 has made history as the first graduates of HEIW’s Level 7 Diploma in Clinical Photography. These pioneers are advancing careers, inspiring innovation, and helping shape the future of clinical photography across Wales and the UK.

At a special ceremony in December, graduates were recognised by Chris Jones (HEIW Chair) and Martin Riley (Deputy Director of Education Commissioning & Quality) for their commitment, resilience, and professionalism. Since completing the diploma, many have already secured key roles in Wales, and two graduates are presenting at IMI’s prestigious New Voices programme.

Their achievements not only reflect personal success but also set a new standard for excellence in patient-centred visual healthcare.

👏 Congratulations to the Class of 2025, Wales’ clinical photography trailblazers!

Find out more about the programme here: https://heiw.nhs.wales/education-and-training/work-based-learning-and-apprenticeships/educational-development-for-healthcare-staff/level-7-diploma-in-clinical-photography/

22/12/2025

✨ HEIW at DEMEC25 ✨
We were proud to play an active role at the Developing Excellence in Medical Education Conference , joining colleagues from across the UK to explore the future of medical education and workforce development.

Highlights included:
✔️ HEIW-led plenaries, workshops & symposia
✔️ Poster presentations on neurodiversity & return to training
✔️ Our Welsh Clinical Leadership Fellows co-chairing abstracts
✔️ Meaningful conversations at the HEIW exhibition stand

A huge thank you to everyone who connected with us, we’re excited to keep working together to shape the future of health and care in Wales and beyond.

Read more; https://heiw.nhs.wales/news/shaping-the-future-heiw-highlights-from-demec25/

Published 22/12/2025   Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) was proud to play an active role at this years Developing Excellence in Medical Education Conference (DEMEC25) , held on 8 - 9 December at ICC…

22/12/2025

Have your say 👇

We’re inviting health and care professionals across all areas of clinical practice in NHS Wales to help shape a new Genomics Capability Framework.

“But I don’t work in genomics?”
That doesn’t matter.

Genomics, the study of a person’s genome, is a rapidly advancing discipline that is increasingly central to patient care pathways, from women’s health and cancer, to diabetes, mental health, rare conditions, infectious disease and more🧬

By sharing your insights and recommendations, you will help ensure that the Framework is:
• practical and relevant to different roles and settings
• easy to use in real environments
• designed to help improve patient outcomes through personalised care.

Our short question and answer style form only takes 5 minutes to complete and we’d really value your input: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=uChWuyjjgkCoVkM8ntyPrjH2JD65J35HoG-E4fQpzP9UNjBCMjA3WkFWMFhaUjRZVkVGN0lRR1ZJMS4u

Thank you for helping to shape a genomic confident NHS Wales workforce ✅.

22/12/2025

Congratulations Emma!

Emma Davies argues in favour of widening access to nursing for people who have grown up in marginalised and care-experienced contexts.

22/12/2025

The Strategic Workforce Plan for Primary Care (SWPPC) aims to grow, support and inspire a skilled, motivated and compassionate primary and community care workforce in Wales.

Now at the midpoint of year Two with 35 out of 50 deliverables already underway, focus continues on delivering care where it’s needed most, supporting staff wellbeing and embedding completed work into routine practice.
➡ https://heiw.nhs.wales/news/transforming-primary-care-in-wales-swppc-year-two-midpoint-progress-update/

The key actions for Year Two are:
🔹Reducing health inequalities across Wales
🔹Improving mental health care
🔹Developing the workforce and strengthening leadership
🔹Enhancing digital skills
🔹Prioritising retention and strengthening workforce planning

Read our latest article to learn more and visit the HEIW website to read the plan:
🔗 https://heiw.nhs.wales/workforce/strategic-workforce-plan-for-primary-care/

21/12/2025

We are incredibly proud to congratulate HEIW’s Dr Fiona Sandom on being awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2025 for her outstanding services to dental therapy and the NHS in Wales.

Fiona has played a vital role in advancing the profession of dental therapy across the UK. Through her roles of President and Chair within the British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT), she has championed education, policy development and clinical excellence, helping to raise the profile and recognition of dental therapists nationwide.

At HEIW, Fiona is a Dental Professional Support Unit (DPSU) Lead and North Wales Regional Lead, where her dedication and passion continue to make a meaningful difference to the dental workforce and the people of Wales.

Congratulations Fiona! A truly inspiring achievement 👏

19/12/2025

📢Exciting news for everyone involved in healthcare simulation across Wales!

We’re hosting a webinar on Monday 26 January 2026 and we’d love you to join us.
➡ https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=uChWuyjjgkCoVkM8ntyPrgxLJLMficVHpp458zKzoU1UMDVNNVBWMTlQUVpSVDFTMEo2NVlSQTBUUy4u&route=shorturl

HEIW’s Simulation Team has been working with partners to create a brand-new Professional Development Framework for Interprofessional Simulation in Health and Care. This framework is designed to support anyone working with simulation, helping develop confidence and expertise, wherever you’re starting from ✅ .

The webinar will give you a closer look at the framework and, most importantly, it’s a chance for you to tell us what will make it truly valuable to you and for the simulation community across Wales.

⭐Sign up today to join us and help shape the future of simulation-based practice in Wales ⭐

19/12/2025

🌟Every week at Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), our teams are working behind the scenes to strengthen the health and care workforce across Wales. By investing in education, innovation and collaboration, we’re helping to build a workforce ready to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s needs.

Take a look at some of this week’s highlights: ⬇️

Launching in January: the HEIW Expert Leadership Series 2026
Inclusive Leadership Session for Senior Leaders https://nhswalesleadershipportal.heiw.wales/events/8bfe531d-b5b8-4f81-8378-0ffa29289f13/overview

Help Shape the Future of Optometry in Wales!
HEIW is looking for optometry practices across Wales to host and supervise Independent Prescribing (IP) trainees.
Contact: HEIW.optometryatp@wales.nhs.uk

Are you a people professional in NHS Wales, working across people and organisational development, learning and development, people analytics or workforce planning? See more..
https://heiw.nhs.wales/news/new-for-nhs-wales-people-professions-map-launched-to-strengthen-people-profession-skills-and-capabilities-across-health-and-care-services/

We have published the latest NHS Wales workforce trends report giving insights as 31 March 2025. https://heiw.nhs.wales/files/workforce-trends-report-march-2025/

Welsh Dental Educational Supervisor Approval Process (DESAP) news! HEIW annual Dental Foundation Training Educational Supervisor Approval Process opens 20 January 2026 – 20 February 2026. https://heiw.nhs.wales/education-and-training/dental/training-programmes/dental-foundation-training/educational-supervisor-approval-process/

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of ‘Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Trauma-Informed Practice in Wales’, a new e-learning course for healthcare professionals across Wales. https://heiw.nhs.wales/news/supporting-compassionate-care-launch-of-new-trauma-e-learning/

New 2026 Endoscopy training dates confirmed! HEIW & the Endoscopy Academy of Wales are delighted to confirm our 2026 training programme, supporting endoscopists, nurses, managers and endoscopy workers across Wales. 🔗 https://heiw.nhs.wales/our-work/endoscopy-academy-of-wales/

Caring for communities across Wales?
GatewayC is here to support you with free online cancer education, designed for busy clinical healthcare professionals working in primary care throughout Wales.
Start exploring today: www.gatewayc.org.uk

Are you part of the urgent primary care team?
We’ve created a new signposting resource, designed to provide GPs, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals with centralised access to practical, evidence-based tools...
https://heiw.nhs.wales/news/new-resource-launched-to-enhance-mental-health-support-in-urgent-primary-care-settings/

Introducing HALI: Empowering Wales’ Healthcare Workforce with AI. We are proud to unveil HALI – the Healthcare AI Learning Interface - a groundbreaking AI chatbot mentor designed to build confidence, knowledge and digital capability across NHS Wales. Access HALI via Y Ty Dysgu: https://ytydysgu.heiw.wales/



Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Hywel Dda Health Board Swansea Bay NHS Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board Bwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys / Powys Teaching Health Board Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Betsi Cadwaladr

19/12/2025

Join us in congratulating Alwen Sayer, named Student Nurse of the
Year, and Abbie Sanders, runner-up at the RCN Wales Awards! 🏆

➡️ https://heiw.nhs.wales/news/heiw-celebrates-student-nurse-of-the-year-alwen-sayers-inspiring-journey/

Both are part-time nursing students on the HEIW-supported pre-registration nursing programme at Wrexham University’s St Asaph which is transforming access to nursing education in North Wales.
Alwen told us:

“Achieving excellent outcomes for patients during the pandemic was a pivotal moment - it gave me the confidence, skills, and motivation to pursue nursing. I’m proud of the hard work that’s brought me here.”

👏 Well done, Alwen and Abbie!
📖 Learn more about nursing careers: https://heiw.nhs.wales/education-and-training/nursing-and-midwifery/

18/12/2025

We’re thrilled to be working with NHS Performance and Improvement to develop a strategic plan for lived experience within the new mental health model of care in Wales.
➡️ https://heiw.nhs.wales/news/strengthening-mental-health-care-through-lived-experience/

Through a series of engagement events across Wales, we're hearing directly from health and social care professionals and people with lived and living experience.

Our recent event in West Wales welcomed over 50 attendees who shared insights, stories and explored how lived experience can shape a more compassionate, person-centred system.

📅 Next up: North Wales, January 14, 2026: we will reflect on all engagement, evidence and insights to help shape the strategic plan.

To find out more about the wider mental health plan visit: https://heiw.nhs.wales/workforce/strategic-mental-health-workforce-plan/

16/12/2025

What does inclusive leadership mean to you?

⏳The countdown has started…

🚀Launching in January: the HEIW Expert Leadership Series 2026

🌟Inclusive Leadership Session for Senior Leaders

We’ll be starting the new year on an inspiring note with renowned expert Hayley Barnard, who will guide us on the journey from ally to accomplice -empowering leaders to take meaningful action for inclusion.

How to join:
The first sessions of the Expert Leadership Series are now live and open for booking on Gwella!
https://nhswalesleadershipportal.heiw.wales/events/8bfe531d-b5b8-4f81-8378-0ffa29289f13/overview

16/12/2025

Help Shape the Future of Optometry in Wales! 👁️

HEIW is looking for optometry practices across Wales to host and supervise Independent Prescribing (IP) trainees. If you have an IP optometrist with 2+ years’ prescribing experience, join our network of HEIW Advanced Training Practices.

Why get involved?
✔️ Develop leadership and supervision skills
✔️ Enhance your practice’s clinical profile
✔️ Support and influence the next generation of IP optometrists
✔️ Be part of a supportive, nationally recognised training network
✔️ Contribute to the future workforce and patient care in Wales

Share your expertise, guide future colleagues, and gain professional satisfaction along the way by enhancing community-based services.

📩 Contact: HEIW.optometryatp@wales.nhs.uk

Optometry Wales