Non-medical practitioners in the staffing of emergency departments and urgent treatment centres in England: a mixed qualitative methods study of policy implementation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patient demand, internationally, on emergency departments and urgent care treatment centres has grown. Shortages of staff, particularly of emergency medicine doctors, have compounded problems. Some countries are pursuing solutions of including non-medical practitioners e.g., nurse practitioners and physician associates/assistants in their emergency department workforces. This study investigated at the macro and meso level of the health system in England: what the rationale was and the factors influencing the current and future employment, or otherwise, of non-medical practitioners in emergency departments and urgent treatment centres.

Methods

Mixed qualitative methods in the interpretative tradition were employed. We undertook, in 2021-2022, a documentary analysis

SUBMITTER: Drennan VM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10631061 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature