Singh Vincent, Pollard Katherine, Okasheh Rasha, Percival John, Cramp Fiona
College of Health, Science and Society; School of Health and Social Wellbeing, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2023 Aug 29;9(3):e001625. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001625. eCollection 2023.
Demand modelling for the allied health professionals (AHPs) workforce showed that significant expansion would be needed to successfully deliver on the National Health Service (NHS) Long Term Plan. The aim was to explore the use of AHP support workers with exercise qualifications in AHP services and to understand their current and potential role in NHS commissioned AHP services in England. The project had two phases and took place between October 2020 and January 2021. In phase one, an electronic survey was carried out to identify the scope and variation of exercise professionals working in AHP support roles in NHS commissioned services. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in phase two to gain further understanding about the experiences of those involved in AHP commissioned services. Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics and interview data were qualitatively analysed using thematic analysis. Recorded interviews were transcribed and initially coded. Coding was then refined and themes were identified. Support workers with exercise qualifications made a valued contribution to AHP services and were considered cost-effective in delivering a specialised exercise intervention. AHP support workers contributed to a range of tasks relating to clinical exercise prescription. Collated data highlighted inconsistency in the way AHP support workers with exercise qualifications identified themselves, despite similar roles. Variation existed in the level of autonomy for AHP support workers with exercise qualifications, even within the same NHS Agenda for Change band. Attempts to manage this disparity involved numerous governance processes to ensure safe, high-quality healthcare in the context of delegation to support workers. Limited training and development opportunities and the lack of career progression for support workers were consistently acknowledged as a source of frustration and hindrance to individuals fulfilling their potential. AHP support workers with exercise qualifications have potential to positively impact service delivery providing added value to the NHS workforce.
针对联合健康专业人员（AHPs）劳动力的需求建模显示，若要成功实现国民医疗服务体系（NHS）的长期计划，就需要大幅扩充人员。其目的是探索在AHPs服务中使用具备运动资质的AHPs支持人员，并了解他们在英格兰NHS委托的AHPs服务中当前及潜在的作用。该项目分为两个阶段，于2020年10月至2021年1月期间开展。在第一阶段，进行了一项电子调查，以确定在NHS委托服务中担任AHPs支持角色的运动专业人员的范围和差异。在第二阶段进行了半结构化访谈，以进一步了解参与NHS委托服务的人员的经历。调查数据采用描述性统计进行分析，访谈数据采用主题分析进行定性分析。对录制的访谈进行了转录并初步编码。然后对编码进行完善并确定主题。具备运动资质的支持人员为AHPs服务做出了宝贵贡献，并且在提供专门的运动干预方面被认为具有成本效益。AHPs支持人员参与了一系列与临床运动处方相关的任务。整理的数据突出显示，尽管角色相似，但具备运动资质的AHPs支持人员在自我身份认定方式上存在不一致。即使在同一个NHS变革议程级别内，具备运动资质的AHPs支持人员的自主权水平也存在差异。为管理这种差异所做的努力涉及众多治理流程，以确保在将工作委托给支持人员的情况下提供安全、高质量的医疗服务。支持人员有限的培训和发展机会以及缺乏职业晋升机会一直被认为是阻碍个人发挥潜力的挫折和障碍来源。具备运动资质的AHPs支持人员有可能对服务提供产生积极影响，为NHS劳动力增添价值。
