An article examined the impact within healthcare settings of reforms, inspired by the 'new public management' approach, on collective bargaining and mechanisms of workforce governance in three countries (the United Kingdom, Italy, and France).
Source: Manuela Galetto, Paul Marginson, and Catherine Spieser, 'Collective bargaining and reforms to hospital healthcare provision: a comparison of the UK, Italy and France', European Journal of Industrial Relations, Volume 20 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jul
A report examined recent evidence about how the workplace experience of healthcare staff was associated with the quality of care and patient satisfaction. It said that there were clear links between improved staff experience and better care for patients, and that good human resources practice and staff engagement should be seen as integral to overall objectives for the National Health Service.
Source: Jeremy Dawson, Staff Experience and Patient Outcomes: What do we know?, NHS Employers
Links: Report | NHS Employers press release
Date: 2014-Jul
An article examined the contribution of physician assistants (PAs) to the delivery of patient care in primary care services in England. PAs were mid-level practitioners, trained to work under a supervising doctor, and were employed at a small number of general practices in England. The article concluded that PAs were found to be acceptable, effective, and efficient in complementing the work of family doctors, and could provide a flexible addition to the primary care workforce. It said that consideration needed to be given to the appropriate level of regulation and the potential for PAs to prescribe medicines. It called for a range of further research.
Source: Vari Drennan, Mary Halter, Sally Brearley, Wilfred Carneiro, Jonathan Gabe, Heather Gage, Robert Grant, Louise Joly, and Simon de Lusignan, 'Investigating the contribution of physician assistants to primary care in England: a mixed-methods study', Health Services and Delivery Research, Volume 2 Issue 16
Date: 2014-Jun
A report examined the progress made in developing the skills and knowledge of the 'wider public health workforce' (non-public health specialists with the ability or opportunity to improve public health) as a way of reducing health inequality and avoidable illness. It evaluated the social and economic impact of five aspects of the wider public health workforce: health trainers; health champions; the Making Every Contact Count initiative; and the role of non-health professionals and the creation of 'healthy settings'. The report considered the case for further investment and called on local authorities and others to engage with their local wider workforce to evaluate and deliver improved health outcomes.
Source: Tackling Health Inequalities: The case for investment in the wider public health workforce, Royal Society for Public Health
Links: Report | RSPH press release
Date: 2014-Jun
A report outlined findings from a survey of district nursing staff across the United Kingdom, providing an update on a 2009 survey. The survey asked staff about key elements of the structure, organization, and challenges facing the district nursing service, in the context of rapid change within the National Health Service and a continuing fall in numbers of district nurses. The report said that the survey revealed confusion around job titles, and concerns regarding the methods of service planning, use of technology, communication with other health and social care organizations, and morale. It said that areas for 'cautious optimism' included: the recognition of the value of the specialist practitioner qualification; the growing use of patient outcomes as a service metric; and partnership working with certain key colleagues such as family doctors. The report made recommendations.
Source: 2020 Vision 5 Years On: Reassessing the future of district nursing, The Queen's Nursing Institute
Links: Report | 2009 report | Nursing Times report
Date: 2014-Jun
A new book examined health professional mobility in the context of a changing Europe, including discussion of: the changing dynamics of health professional mobility; the mobile individual worker; and policy responses at European Union, national, and organizational level.
Source: James Buchan, Matthias Wismar, Irene Glinos, and Jeni Bremner (eds), Health Professional Mobility in a Changing Europe: New dynamics, mobile individuals and diverse responses, World Health Organisation
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-May
A report examined policy and public health issues associated with podiatry and foot health, noting the implications on future service demand of an ageing population.
Source: Mike Townson, Developing a Sustainable Podiatry Workforce for the UK Towards 2030, College of Podiatry
Links: Report
Date: 2014-May
An article examined a study of the work of middle and junior clinical and non-clinical managers in two English National Health Service trusts, the construction and influence of their workplace identities, and how they mobilized their identities to achieve effectiveness. It said that many respondents struggled with their identities as managers, and that more work was needed to explore how to foster positive identities both among managers themselves and among those with whom they interacted.
Source: Janet Harvey, Ellen Annandale, John Loan-Clarke, Olga Suhomlinova, and Nina Teasdale, 'Mobilising identities: the shape and reality of middle and junior managers' working lives – a qualitative study', Health Services and Delivery Research, Volume 2 Issue 11
Date: 2014-May
The public health advisory service of Wales published its first strategy for nursing, developed following consultation with nurses and midwives.
Source: Raising the Profile: The Public Health Wales Nursing and Midwifery Strategy, May 2014-2017, Public Health Wales
Links: Report | PHW press release
Date: 2014-May
A report examined employer investment in health sector apprenticeships. It said that the evidence suggested that apprenticeships delivered the skills that employers needed, and that costs of the training investment could be recouped over one or two years, if they retained the services of their former apprentices.
Source: Beate Baldauf, Lynn Gambin, and Terence Hogarth, Employer Investment in Apprenticeships in the Health Sector, Research Report 174, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: Report | DBIS press release
Date: 2014-May
A report (by an official advisory body) provided the outcome of a review of the United Kingdom law relating to the regulation of healthcare professionals and, in England only, the regulation of social workers. It set out a new single legal framework with new powers and duties for regulators, and included a draft Bill.
Source: Regulation of Health Care Professionals Regulation of Social Care Professionals in England, Cm 8839, Law Commission
Links: Report | Summary | Law Commission press release | PSA press release
Date: 2014-Apr
The government began consultation on proposals to change the legislation that governed the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the United Kingdom regulator for the two professions. The changes included proposals that would: change the handling of fitness-to-practice (FtP) cases; introduce power to review certain FtP decisions; allow registrants who were not fit to practice to be removed from the register; change who sat on registration appeal panels; and change insurance requirements. The consultation would close on 12 June 2014.
Source: The Nursing and Midwifery Council Proposed Changes to the Governing Legislation: A paper for consultation, Department of Health
Links: Consultation document | Draft order
Date: 2014-Apr
A report provided the results of a snapshot survey of National Health Service staff. The survey sought the views of staff who worked on 4 March 2014, and asked about staffing levels and the impact on care. Key findings from the survey responses included: that three quarters of midwives and 71 per cent of nurses (general and mental health) said they did not have adequate time with each patient; 59 per cent of nurses on a night shift said there were elements of care they were unable to give; and 51 per cent said they were not confident about raising concerns locally. The report made a range of recommendations.
Source: Running on Empty: NHS staff stretched to the limit, Unison
Links: Report | Unison press release
Date: 2014-Apr
A report examined diversity in the workforce of London National Health Service Trusts, in the light of evidence about the impact of staff and Board diversity on the effectiveness of healthcare provision and the patient experience.
Source: Roger Kline, The 'Snowy White Peaks' of the NHS: A survey of discrimination in governance and leadership and the potential impact on patient care in London and England, Middlesex University Business School
Links: Report | Middlesex University press release | Nursing Times report
Date: 2014-Apr
A report examined the role of the assistant practitioner in the health sector in Wales. The role was at a higher level of competence than a traditional healthcare support worker, located between registered health professionals and healthcare support worker roles. The report said that the role had been developed in a number of occupational areas and, where used, was well received and achieved cost savings. It said there was a broad range of challenges confounding the widespread adoption of the AP, but noted that a future increase in community-based care could create demand for more practitioners, with some of those roles straddling health and social care. It noted the need for education and training.
Source: Assistant Practitioner Roles in the Welsh Health Sector: Enhancing the potential for future development, Skills for Health
Links: Report | SfH press release
Date: 2014-Feb
The government began consultation on proposals to develop a new clear and specific criminal offence of ill-treatment or wilful neglect of patients and service users in England and Wales. The consultation would close on 31 March 2014.
Source: New Offence of Ill-Treatment or Wilful Neglect: Consultation document, Department of Health
Links: Consultation document | DH press release | Guardian report
Date: 2014-Feb
An article examined whether compassion should any longer be expected of those working in healthcare.
Source: Joshua Hordern, 'What s wrong with "compassion"?: towards a political, philosophical and theological context', Clinical Ethics, Volume 8 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Feb
A report examined approaches to staffing levels in the National Health Service in England. Focussing on nursing staff, it examined the existing approaches, the potential benefits from improved workforce data, and the barriers to the adoption of digital technology for rosters, payment, and quality assurance. It said that significant potential safety and financial gains could be made, but implementation would require a cohesive approach, with strong leadership and broad support.
Source: Tony Hockley and Sean Boyle, NHS Safe Staffing: Not just a number, London School of Economics
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Jan
