The Council of Deans of Health is pleased to be a signatory to the Clinical Academic Summit statement of intent with key stakeholders across the health research system and coordinated by the Academy of Medical Sciences.

The statement of ambition and intent, which the Council of Deans of Health supports, is intended to address falling numbers of clinical academics and increase the number of permanent clinical academic posts, year on year, to meet the needs of the nation’s health and economy. 

We are already working with our members to enable an increase in clinical researchers in nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions. We are convening an implementation group with key stakeholders from across the UK and representing the breadth of the nursing, midwifery and allied health research community, chaired by Professor Jane Coad, to take forward the recommendations in the recent report from the Task & Finish Group for NMAHP clinical researchers.

Key actions from this work include:

• Embedding clear research career routes and sustainable supply for nursing, midwifery and allied health professions clinical academics across all four countries of the UK aligned to a common national clinical research career pathway for all.
• Creating a culture and environment which supports sustainable clinical academic careers for Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals.
• Ensuring equitable terms and conditions, including rates of pay, for clinical researchers in nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions.
• Improving the capture the metrics of clinical academics across the four countries of the UK to understand the current landscape.

We will continue to work with the Academy of Medical Sciences and other stakeholders to underline the important role of NMAHP clinical academics and find ways to increase their number and sustainability across the UK.