Preparing non-medical clinicians to deliver GP out-of-hours services: lessons learned from an innovative approach

Moule, Pam; Clompus, Susan; Lockyer, Lesley; Coates, David; Ryan, Kathy

Abstract

© 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Despite the need to develop a non-medical out-of-hours (OOHs) workforce to address increasing healthcare demands and to support a strained GP workforce, there is no consensus on the required training and clinical competencies needed for nurses and paramedics to be developed as safe OOH practitioners. This paper presents the development and evaluation of one programme delivered in 2017 to paramedics seeking to work in OOHs services. Details of the course delivery are outlined and the mixed-methods evaluation presented. Following successful university ethical approval, student and staff experiences were reviewed through interviews, questionnaires and graded feedback of completed electronic patient case records. The findings provided useful learning that can be transferred to other organisations seeking to develop such training. In particular, the findings suggest the course was able to provide the students with the skills, knowledge and confidence to become safe practitioners in the OOHs service. Challenges in course delivery were highlighted. It was suggested that course organisation, duration and scope require careful consideration to enable students to complete and practise successfully.

Citation

Moule, P., Clompus, S., Lockyer, L., Coates, D., & Ryan, K. (2018). Preparing non-medical clinicians to deliver GP out-of-hours services: lessons learned from an innovative approach. Education for Primary Care, 29(6), 376-380. https://doi.org/10.1080/14739879.2018.1516517

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 25, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Sep 21, 2018
• Publication Date: Nov 2, 2018
• Deposit Date: Aug 2, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 22, 2019
• Journal: Education for Primary Care
• Print ISSN: 1473-9879
• Electronic ISSN: 1475-990X
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 376-380
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14739879.2018.1516517
• Keywords: diversification of clinical workforce, primary care services, non-medical clinicians, triage, competency framework
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/855408
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/14739879.2018.1516517
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Education for Primary Care on 21 September 2018, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/14739879.2018.1516517