Workforce Project 2023-4
“The workloads can feel completely unmanageable, and it regularly feels as though you are just doing enough to keep the patient safe.”
“I was unable to stop crying when I arrived at the train station and then when I came into work. I had burnt out. A colleague sent me home and I spent the next 10 days at home recovering from this. It took that long to feel back to normal.”
“The situation with consultant staffing now is worse than it has ever been, and I have significant concerns regarding patient safety.”
Quotes from BSH members were collected in 2022.
In our Strategy 2024-26: Improving lives in the haematology community we have made the commitment that:
By 2026, we will be a powerful voice for haematology, supporting and championing the specialty and the entire multi-disciplinary team, helping them to deliver excellent patient care.
For the last year, the BSH has worked with world-leading researchers at London South Bank University to carry out a major research project to investigate the current state of the haematology workforce, the wellbeing of the multidisciplinary team and how good practice can help the issues facing our workforce. This is the most comprehensive study to be undertaken of the whole haematology workforce in the UK.
Webinar to Share Initial Findings
We invited members and stakeholders to a webinar on 10th October to hear the initial findings of, and next steps for, the project. The webinar was introduced by former BSH President Dr. Josh Wright and Dr. Sue Pavord, current BSH President, both of whom have overseen the development and progress of the project. Prof. Alison Leary and Prof. Adele Stewart-Lord, our researchers from the School of Health & Social Care at London South Bank University, presented the main findings to date and answered a broad range of questions from delegates.
The webinar was a key part of our ongoing discussion around how BSH can best support and advocate for the haematology community. A priority will be given to discussions with policy makers and workforce modellers across the four nations. We will continue to work with stakeholders to see how best to support our membership so that they, in turn, can continue to provide excellent care for haematology patients. Continue to follow our work in this area to see peer reviewed publications, and further advancements in our advocacy for the haematology community.
Here is a summary of the main points from the webinar discussion.
Watch the full webinar below
Upcoming ways you can help
We would love to hear from our members. If you have any comments, questions, or stories to share on any aspect of workforce, please complete the form below.
We want to hear about your experiences at work, staffing levels, and stories of your wellbeing. We would particularly like to hear about areas of good practice and service delivery that you have come across or are using. This will contribute towards identification of solutions and improvements leading to improved service delivery and workforce experience. We aim to create a ‘Solutions’ toolkit- a repository of best practice and good ideas for improving services for both staff and patients, a sharing space for initiatives that are working well for people.
You can also read more about the three stages of the project below.
March 2023
BSH is thrilled to announce that Prof. Alison Leary and her team at London South Bank University will be joining us as our research partner for a large scale workforce project. Prof. Leary is Chair of Healthcare and Workforce Modelling, and a world leading researcher in the areas of workforce modelling and patient safety. Her research has influenced national policy in safety and care standards.
Prof. Leary will be joined by Dr Adéle Stewart-Lord, Associate Dean for Research and Enterprise within the Institute of Health and Social Care and an expert in workforce development and virtual education.
“London South Bank University are delighted to be working with the British Society for Haematology on this exciting workforce project looking at current issues and also the future workforce needed in this important cross cutting specialism.”
Prof. Alison Leary, LSBU.
Introducing our new Research Fellows
We have recently added two part time BSH Research Fellows to our workforce team, Dr Nicola Ransome and Dr Jonathan Massie. Working closely with the team at LSBU, they will play a key role in designing data collection tools, interpreting results, and assisting with contextualising and influencing policy content.
Dr Nicola Ransome
Nicola is a Consultant Clinical Scientist in haematology, working as part of one of the newly formed pathology networks, Scarborough, Hull and York Pathology Service (SHYPS) based at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.
Her work involves laboratory and clinical practice, which includes providing direct patient care as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Nicola told us: "I am very passionate about haematology and its future, especially the current workforce that is under unprecedented pressure. I am keen to be involved in the workforce-modelling project to understand the extent of the challenges the profession currently faces and how this might be addressed in the future using other professionals to support the services provided."
Dr Jonathan Massie
Jonathan is an ST5 Haematology Registrar training at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust. He has a particular interest in workforce planning.
He has published on the use and misuse of workplace-based assessments in training and looked at trainee and trainer perceptions of workplace-based assessments using interview-based research.
Jon hopes we can produce something that adequately reflects and improves the current situation for the haematology workforce.
Workforce gap analysis
We intend to gather evidence on the demand for haematological services, now and in the future, and supply of workforce to meet this need. We are looking at the whole clinical haematological workforce, including physician associates, nurses and allied health professionals, not just consultants and trainee doctors.
The project will be using soft systems methodology which was derived from earlier systems engineering processes, since traditional systems thinking does not encompass larger organisational issues, with many complex relationships.
This method has been used by our collaborators on a large-scale programme of workforce modelling commissioned by Health Education England to overcome some of the common issues in demand-based modelling (such as complex non-linear work, misperceptions of roles, many levels of practice) and understand the components necessary for such modelling
Practitioner wellbeing
We aim to establish a current baseline for wellbeing among the whole MDT, and to identify how workforce shortages may be affecting it. We will explore the effect of new models of delivery on wellbeing.
Identification of solutions and improvements
We want to build a repository of good practice (from the UK and elsewhere) to disseminate to members. We would also like to be able to help members with practical tools.
As well as hard data, we envisage collecting case studies and testimonials illustrating good practice, with explanations of how and why they work, and possibly describing conditions/settings in which they work best.
Workforce resources
Download the 2020 BSH Workforce Report.
The Royal College of Pathologists collect workforce data, and carry out workforce planning for the whole specialty.
The Royal College of Physicians runs the Medical Workforce Unit, and produces policy reports on the workforce issue and proposed solutions for the entire medical workforce.
The NHS Long Term Plan will of course cover it’s plans for the future of the NHS workforce.
One of Health Education England’s key functions is Workforce Transformation, which aims to support the development of the NHS workforce both now and in the future.