By April 2018 Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) will come into effect, and will sit alongside Health Boards and Trusts to support the development of the health workforce in Wales. This will include:

• Education and training
• Planning
• Leadership
• Careers
• Improvement 
• And widening access.

As board members, Professor Phillips and Dr Phillips will be responsible for ensuring that HEIW’s strategic direction is focused on the well-being goals for Wales, helping to highlight the importance of delivering patient care through education and improved support for health bodies.

Professor Ceri Phillips, Head of the College of Human and Health Sciences at Swansea University and Professor of Health Economics at Swansea Centre for Health Economics, said: “Having been involved from the inception of Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) as a member of the original review panel and in its developmental phase, I am delighted and honoured to have been appointed to be a member of the initial HEIW Board.”

“The establishment of the organisation obviously represents a major challenge, but it also provides an immense opportunity to influence and shape the NHS workforce of the future and assist the current workforce to support, treat and care for the people of Wales and develop a healthcare system that will enhance the health, wellbeing and wealth of our nation.”

Dr Heidi Phillips, Associate Professor and Admissions Director for the Graduate Entry Medicine and Physician Associate programmes at Swansea University Medical School, said: “I am delighted and excited to be able to play a role in the commissioning, planning and development of education and training for the NHS workforce in Wales. This is a unique opportunity to deliver something different for the people of Wales and the people who care for them.”

Professor Phillips and Dr Phillips will begin their appointments in February 2018 where they will help promote the health service in Wales as a leading career choice.