About us
The Council of Deans of Health represents UK universities engaged in education and research for nursing, midwifery, and allied health, working together to strategically improve healthcare education, research and public health.
The Council of Deans of Health represents the UK’s strategic academic leaders in healthcare education and research. Our membership comprises over 100 university and further education faculties across every region and nation of the United Kingdom. They deliver the overwhelming majority of British-educated nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, the future workforce of the NHS.
At any one time they will be educating around 200,000 current and future health professionals and will carry out research that improves the population’s health and wellbeing. Our members are based in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and Gibraltar.
Our mission
The Council, on behalf of the UK university healthcare education sector, advances and promotes healthcare education and research for the public benefit, through influencing Government policy and connecting our members.
Our vision
Our vision is that governments in the UK are committed to quality education and research and a sustainable healthcare academic workforce, in order to safeguard and improve the health and wellbeing of the public.
Our purpose
One
Informing and influencing UK health and social care education policy and practice to promote positive outcomes for those who benefit from the Charity’s work and promoting innovations across the sector.
Two
Enhancing the skills, expertise and knowledge base of those engaged in delivering high quality education and research outcomes for the benefit of students.
Three
Encouraging and promoting collaboration between Members and/or Associate Members and policy makers, regulators, employers and others doing work relevant to the sector both in the UK and globally in order to share sector knowledge and expertise and promote innovation.
Our strategic goals
We have set three core strategic aims for our Council 2025 Strategy:
- Influence policy across the UK promoting the essential contribution of our sector to health and social care.
- Offer excellent services to our members creating sustainable sector networks.
- Advance healthcare education and research by strengthening our sector and organisation.
Our annual report
The Council’s statutory annual report and financial statements covers the previous academic year and provides an overview of our activity and achievements.
Our history
At the start
The Council of Deans of Health was set up in 1997, following the migration of nursing and midwifery education from hospitals to universities in the mid-90s. In 2006 the group extended its remit to the allied health professions and in 2008 adopted the title ‘Council of Deans of Health’. The Council has worked over the years to build a national profile and become known and valued as a source of robust evidence, comment, opinion and advice.
Growing across the UK
Reflecting the devolved nature of health higher education policy, the voice of members in Scotland and Wales was strengthened by the creation in 2015 of Council of Deans of Health Scotland, and of the Council of Deans of Health Wales / Cyngor Deoniaid Iechyd Cymru in 2017. This was later followed by the creation of the Council of Deans of Health Northern Ireland.
Present day
The Council continues to play a key role in influencing health higher education policy, demonstrating the impact of the sector’s research and supporting members to anticipate and shape change in the health and higher education sectors.
Work for the council
No current opportunities.