Capacity needs to be created to encourage greater confidence in practicing independently

Working in community settings requires confident practitioners. In addition to training and experience, electronic communications could offer immediate support.

There has been a shift from acute care to community care, which may affect demand as practitioners could be seen as more accessible than before. Working in community settings without immediate backup, however, requires health and social care professionals to be confident and trust their decisions, if such methods of working are to be effective. With many professions becoming increasingly interdisciplinary and working across traditional boundaries, the emphasis on self reliance is becoming all the more important. More complex or riskier treatments delivered at home, such as drug infusions and kidney dialysis, also require confident practitioners able to deliver the care effectively. Greater use of technology, such as decision aids and video conferencing, alongside training and experience, could help practitioners adapt to their professions’ increasing demands. This would mitigate initial negative effects on demand. As a result, it is recommended that decision makers examine how the role of practitioners may need to change, given shifts in policy and technology.

Sources or references

• Suggested by number of stakeholders in interview and in workshops during CfWI research on nursing.
• From unpublished CfWI report (report available on request).

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.