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• www.eWIN.northwest.nhs.uk