New NHS roles in England were introduced prematurely without proper preparation, says review
New roles in healthcare provision, such as physician associates (PAs), have been introduced too quickly and without proper preparation, a review has found. The review of new staff roles in the NHS in England,1 carried out by the health think tank the Nuffield Trust, found that too often they had been introduced before agreement on issues such as regulation, training, supervision, and communication. The study, commissioned by NHS Employers, looked at the history of how different roles have been introduced, how the mix of staff skills in the NHS compares with other countries, and what needs to be tackled if the government’s plans to expand the workforce and invest in new roles are to succeed. The NHS has a long history of introducing new roles, said the authors—recently including PAs, nursing associates, and advanced nurse practitioners to tackle staff shortages, financial constraints, and changing health needs. The …
