Health Management and Policy Alert

The health care workforce in England: make or break?

The King's Fund -
In advance of the publication of the NHS long-term plan, this briefing highlights the scale of workforce challenges now facing the health service and the threat this poses to the delivery and quality of care over the next ten years. It sets out the reasons why the long-term plan and supporting workforce strategy must address the urgent and mounting challenges facing the health care workforce.

• Report
• The King's Fund - publications

Tackling bullying in ambulance trusts: a guide for action

NHS Employers -

This guide contains analysis, advice, case studies and recommendations for how to tackle bullying and create positive cultures in ambulance trusts. It has been created by ambulance colleagues as a call to action to implement changes and improve staff experience.

• Guide
• More detail

Shortage occupation list 2018: call for evidence

Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) - 
The Migration Advisory Committee is carrying out a full review of the shortage occupation list and this call for evidence requests information from organisations with current recruitment shortages. This consultation closes on 6 January 2019.

• Consultation

Brexit and the health and social care workforce in the UK

National Institute of Economic and Social Research -
This report reveals that the NHS could be short of 51,000 nurses by the end of the Brexit transition period. The report, commissioned by the Cavendish Coalition representing 36 health and social care organisations, also highlights the increasingly crucial role EEA nationals are playing in UK social care services.

• Report
• National Institute of Economic and Social Research - press release

Medical CCT class of 2016: survey 2017: how have they fared?

Royal College of Physicians -

Published jointly with the the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, this is the ninth annual survey reporting the experiences of and outcomes for certificate of completion of training (CCT) holders within one year of gaining their CCT. For several years in a row it has found  that CCT holders who describe themselves as being of white British ethnicity apply for fewer posts, but are more likely to be shortlisted and offered a post. Black and minority ethnic (BME) women appear to be particularly disadvantaged.

• Report
• Press release

Workplace culture at Southwestern Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust

UNISON -
This report, based on a staff survey and interviews, was jointly commissioned by UNISON and the ambulance trust. It follows a succession of serious complaints and grievances about the behaviour of managers and other employees at the ambulance service. The report found no evidence of a culture of bullying across the service, but says there were definite problem hotspots.

• Report
• UNISON - press release

Bullying and harassment: how to address it and create a supportive and inclusive culture

British Medical Association (BMA) -
The BMA began its bullying and harassment project in 2017 following doctors highlighting the impact that bullying and harassment had on the working lives and well-being of members, and growing evidence of how it harms patient care and safety. The project reviewed the existing evidence on workplace bullying and harassment in the NHS, and asked doctors and medical students to share their experiences. This report is a reflection of what was learned. It sets out key issues that need addressing, and recommendations for change.

• Report
• BMA - projects

Surgical care practitioners: Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

NHS Employers - 

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust was one of the first trusts to recruit surgical care practitioners (SCPs) within England. This case study explores how the trust has successfully integrated SCPs within its orthopaedics department and developed the role, providing SCPs with support and training to extend their scope of practice.

• Case study
• More detail

Care staffing in the NHS: the good, the bad and the promising

BPP University School of Nursing - 

The NHS is the biggest employer in England and the fifth biggest in the world. But it is struggling to recruit enough nurses and care staff. In 2018, BPP approached 220 NHS trusts in England - of which 89 per cent responded as part of this report. While it is clear that NHS trusts are having to deal with budgetary pressures and a skills shortage which may be exacerbated by Brexit, they are also facing significant changes to their traditional training models. This includes factors such as cuts to bursaries and the declining numbers of those applying for nursing degrees.

• Report
• More detail

The NHS bursary scheme new rules: seventh edition

Department of Health and Social Care -
This guidance contains information for students and higher education institutions about the NHS bursary scheme rules that apply for the academic year 2018 to 2019.

• Guidance
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications