New £4.5million project to boost NHS staffing
Five-year scheme will be led in the East of England by experts from Anglia Ruskin
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is to lead the East of England delivery of a £4.5million national project, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), to improve healthcare in rural and coastal areas as well as disadvantaged urban communities.
The five-year Allied Health Professions Workforce Research Partnership aims to improve patient care by ensuring staff such as paramedics, physiotherapists and radiographers are available when and where they are needed in NHS hospitals, community services, and general practice.
There are 14 different allied health professions, providing specialist emergency, diagnostics, and treatment services from birth to end of life. After nurses and doctors, they are the third largest workforce in the NHS.
The most recent figures put the East of England’s NHS unfilled vacancy rate at 8.1%, the highest in the country outside of London.
Professor Sally Fowler-Davis of ARU will work closely with partners across the nation including Sheffield Hallam University, University of Lincoln, University of Sheffield, University of Suffolk, University of Leeds and NHS East of England.
Researchers will collaborate in three regional hubs based in Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and the East of England to test new ways to address staffing problems in these areas and help them to best meet the needs of patients.
The project will bring together researchers and NHS partners, as well as patient and staff groups, to jointly design new ways of working that will improve patient care and help recruitment, retention and job satisfaction.
“There are parts of the East of England that face significant challenges in accessing healthcare due to their geographical isolation and limited resources, such as rural and coastal areas, where we know services struggle to recruit and retain staff.
“By enhancing the presence and support of allied health professionals in these areas, we aim to address these disparities and ensure that residents receive the high-quality care they deserve.
“This initiative is crucial for improving health outcomes and fostering a sense of community wellbeing. By investing in the recruitment and retention of skilled healthcare professionals in underserved areas, we can build a more resilient and equitable healthcare system that meets the needs of everyone, regardless of their location.”
Professor Sally Fowler-Davis