Skill Mix
Hospitals drive a shift in the skill mix of the workforce, namely advanced critical care practitioners (ACCPs), nurses, physicians’ assistants (anaesthetics) or PA(A)s, or operating department practitioners (ODPs). These staff groups provide greater continuity of care for patients and support junior trainee level doctors, which allows them better, more efficient and effective training. These roles deliver services on pathways such as elective work or other areas which are protocol driven, while more experienced staff deliver services at a higher level.
Proposed workforce impact
- An impact on numbers of doctors is uncertain but they would have better training and support.
Sources or references
Additional research questions
- Which professional body would regulate ACCP training – should this come from the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine or the Nursing and Midwifery Council?
- Will hospitals be willing to pay ACCPs at a band commensurate with their skills?
- How will growth in the ACCP workforce affect the workforce numbers of other professions?
Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.
