A study found that appropriately trained nurses perform no worse than pre-registration house officers in preoperative assessment, although neither group performed particularly well. House officers ordered nearly twice as many unnecessary tests as nurses.
Source: Helen Kinley et al., 'Effectiveness of appropriately trained nurses in preoperative assessment: randomised controlled equivalence/non-inferiority trial', British Medical Journal 7.12.02
Links: Article | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A report warned the government that its National Health Service modernisation plans are in danger unless older people are encouraged against taking early retirement and more older staff are recruited to fill vacant health service posts.
Source: Sandra Meadows, Great to be Grey: How can the NHS recruit and retain more older staff?, King s Fund (020 7307 2591)
Links: Summary (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The government began consultation on plans 'to transform the learning and career opportunities for National Health Service staff', through the creation of a new corporate university of the NHS - the 'NHSU'.
Source: Learning for Everyone, Department of Health (0800 555550)
Links: Consultation Document (pdf) | DH press release
Date: 2002-Nov
A study found that white consultants in England and Wales are three times more likely than those from ethnic minorities to get distinction awards, which can add up to 62,815 a year to their salaries.
Source: Research by Aneez Esmail, reported in The Guardian, 7.11.02
Links: Guardian report | BBC news
Date: 2002-Nov
A report said that divisions of labour within and between occupational groups and agencies in the National Health Service are still inhibiting the recovery of patients. Dedicated rehabilitation practitioners, who would combine the skills of existing health workers, could be the answer to supporting patients in their recovery from illness.
Source: Rachel Lissauer and Liz Kendall (eds.), New Practitioners in the Future Health Service, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Summary | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
Negotiators reached agreement (subject to consultation) on a 10 per cent basic pay increase over three years for one million National Health Service employees including nurses, therapists, porters and support staff. Instead of automatic pay progression, staff who take on extra responsibilities and acquire new skills will receive extra rewards. There will be incentives to change traditional ways of working in order to improve patient care, and greater flexibility for employers to pay more locally to recruit and retain staff. The main union said it was concerned at misleading reports that the agreement meant 'massive' pay increases.
Source: A Modernised NHS Pay System, Department of Health (08701 555455) | Press release 28.11.02, Department of Health (020 7210 4850) | Press release 28.11.02, UNISON (0845 355 0845)
Links: Agreement (pdf) | Summary | DH press release | UNISON press release | Guardian report
Date: 2002-Nov
A report said that there is a 'grave mismatch' between plans for growth and modernisation of the clinical workforce and the recruitment of clinical academics.
Source: Stephen Davies, Identity and Ideology: A comparative study of academic health organisations in the UK and USA, Nuffield Trust (020 631 8450)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release (Word file)
Date: 2002-Nov
The annual census of consultant physicians in the United Kingdom found that even though half wanted to reduce their working hours, nearly a third said they would not do so because it might mean a decreased service to patients, and over a quarter because it would place an increased pressure on their colleagues.
Source: 2001 UK Wide Census of Consultants in Medical Specialties, Royal College of Physicians (020 7935 1174)
Links: Census page | Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 2.4
Date: 2002-Oct
Guidelines were published (with the approval of the Department of Health) aimed at helping healthcare professions deal with and eradicate homophobia.
Source: Dignity at Work for Lesbian and Gay Doctors and Dentists, Gay and Lesbian Association of Doctors and Dentists (0870 765 5606)
Links: Guidelines (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
An analysis suggested that the government will not succeed in meeting its target of recruiting an extra 15,000 doctors to the National Health Service in England by 2008.
Source: Analysis by Diane Gray and Belinda Finlayson for The Guardian, 8.10.02
Links: Guardian report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121, paragraph 2.4
Date: 2002-Oct
In a referendum on a new National Health Service contract, consultants in Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to accept, but those in England and Wales rejected it by a margin of two to one.
Source: Press release 31.10.02, British Medical Association (020 7387 4499)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
The government published guidance to National Health Service employers on the retention and future employment of people who have experienced or are experiencing mental health problems.
Source: Mental Health and Employment in the NHS, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Guidance (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A new book reported the results of research into race discrimination within the National Health Service, and examined the prospects for a national strategy linking the business and justice cases for the delivery of greater equity in employment and service delivery.
Source: Paul Iganski and David Mason, Ethnicity, Equality of Opportunity and the British National Health Service, Ashgate Publications (01235 827730)
Links: Summary
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121, paragraph 8.4
Date: 2002-Oct
An audit report on recruitment and retention problems in local public services found people are leaving because of negative experiences rather than compelling alternative options.
Source: Recruitment and Retention: A Public Service Workforce for the Twenty-First Century, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Sep
A think-tank pamphlet argued that the National Health Service must prepare for increasing reliance on its non-professionally qualified support staff.
Source: John Rogers, Support Staff in Health and Social Care: An Overview of Policy Issues, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Aug
An audit review found some improvement in the organisation and management of doctors in training: but it also found anomalies in the grade structure of hospital doctors, and a lack of recognised posts available for doctors below consultant level.
Source: Medical Staffing Review: Acute Hospital Portfolio, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report
Date: 2002-Aug
A consultation document proposed that junior doctors should pass through basic specialist training programmes with clearly defined end-points, with the aim of exposing them to a wider range of experience before they made vital career choices.
Source: Unfinished Business: Proposals for reform of the senior house officer grade, Chief Medical Officer for England/Department of Health (fax: 01623 724524)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | DH press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121, paragraph 2.4
Date: 2002-Aug
A think-tank pamphlet set out the case for and against greater regulation of healthcare assistants, and considered the range of different measures that could be adopted.
Source: Mark Johnson et al., Regulation of Health Care Assistants, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Aug
An advisory group produced the first ever official report on medical workforce planning in Scotland. The Scottish Executive accepted most of its recommendations.
Source: Future Practice: A Review of the Scottish Medical Workforce ('Temple Report'), Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400) | Future Practice: A Review of the Scottish Medical Workforce: The Response of the Scottish Executive, Scottish Executive
Links: Report (pdf) | Response (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Jul
The first results were published from two new 'mini censuses' of the National Health Service workforce, which together showed the numbers of consultants and general medical practitioners working in the NHS as at 31 March 2002.
Source: Vacancies Survey 2002, Department of Health (08701 555455) | Press release 8 July 2002, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: Vacancies Survey (pdf) | DH press release
Date: 2002-Jul
The government was forced to abandon its insistence that new consultants undertake extra National Health Service sessions before doing private work.
Source: Press release 12 June 2002, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 2.4)
Date: 2002-Jun
