18 weeks workforce support programme

The NHS in England has started delivery of one of its most ambitious access targets to date. By the end of 2008, the service will have a total of 18 weeks to refer, diagnose and start treating a patient from their first presentation. In order to deliver the 18 week target, the NHS needs to develop a skilled and flexible workforce.

A department of Health (DH) programme of support is now underway which involves key partners in the NHS. The programme aims to help 18 weeks workforce planning in Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs). It supports health organisations to meet the 18 week workforce challenges by providing tools, techniques and resources.

Skills for Health's contribution

Skills for Health's contribution to the 18 week wait are as follows:

Identify any key function and competence gaps to inform further competence development
Identify roles that are involved in delivering services across the pathways
Supporting service to identify areas where new, expanded or transferable roles could be introduced
Identifying the education and training needs and provisions that could support workforce skills development.

Identify the functions and competences required by the workforce to deliver on 36 commissioning pathways across a number of speciality areas which include:

Cardiology
Dermatology
Gastroenterology
General Surgery
Gynaecology
Neurology
Ophthalmics
Orthopaedics
Plastic Surgery ENT/Audiology
Oral Surgery
Urology