Scoping Exercise: Assistant Practitioners’ role in the Administration of Medicines across the North West. in conjunction with York University

Background to the issue ‘Hot topic’ at workforce modernisation network meetings. In 2011 a NW wide task and finish group established to review 2007 guidance document. Task and finish group identified little research in this area. Scoping exercise/evaluation needed.

Background to the issue Task and finish group approached NHS North West to commission an external evaluation Firefly Research Consultancy/York University commissioned following a competitive tendering process. Results used to inform new guidance document due summer 2012 as well as to produce a report in its own right.

Report finalised April 2012 Six chapters, 45 pages long Executive Summary Introduction & background Summary research & policy literature Current practice Drivers, benefits and barriers Making it happen Conclusion & recommendations.

Aims of the study Identify organisations that allow APs to administer Explore service needs and drivers, who APs have substituted, what medicines they administer, policies, training. Survey Follow up interviews Case Studies

Current Practice 19 Organisations allow administration Others considering doing so Those that did said it worked well or very well Wide range of medicines

Drivers, benefits & barriers Benefits to patient care Benefits for registered staff and service delivery Benefits for APs Lack of registration Governance Resistance from others

Making it Happen Training and assessing competence Supervision Governance Protocols/procedures

Success Factors Service needs High level support and leadership Organisational culture Training assessment and support Communication Taking time

Conclusions and Recommendations Previous studies focussed on acute wards. Lot to be learned from community and mental health settings. Understand the AP role 10 Building blocks Do not ‘reinvent the wheel’ learn from others

Dissemination of Report Workforce Planning/Modernisation Networks WBEF Network Education Partnership Group Directors of Nursing/ Human Resources Chief Pharmacists Group Hub Management Board National AP Co-ordinator Group Question time ‘experts’ event – July – new policy