Examination of Witnesses (Questions 460-461)
PROFESSOR BONNIE
SIBBALD, MS
DEBORAH O'DEA,
DR HUGO
MASCIE-TAYLOR
AND MS
ALISON NORMAN
15 JUNE 2006
Q460 Charlotte Atkins: Hopefully
if we have this one set of notes in primary care as well as in
acute care we might overcome that problem. Given that a number
of nurses are likely to be made redundant in some acute settings
in hospitals, what scope do you see for these nurses going into
primary care from hospital settings?
Professor Sibbald: There is considerable
scope. The tradition has been for general practice to be staffed
by nurses who first worked in hospitals and later in their careers
moved out into the community for a wide variety of reasons. I
would say there is every opportunity for them to do so.
Q461 Charlotte Atkins: Lastly, do
you think that primary care generally has had enough of a priority
in terms of role redesign? The whole of the medical system seems
to be geared up for hospitals and not so much primary care. Is
that changing or are we still seeing that the focus, in terms
of innovation and role design, is at the hospital level?
Professor Sibbald: I would say
two things. Where general practice loses out is in access to good
human resource management expertise and skills which are much
more available in acute trusts. On the other hand, I think that
their degree of distance on the innovation front has been an asset
to general practice. They are small businesses. They are usually
quick on their feet in terms of making skill mix changes, often
leading them in the country. I do not think that they suffered
in terms of innovating in terms of roles within practices but
they could do with more HR skills.
Chairman: Could I thank you all very
much for coming along this morning. I am sure your evidence will
be invaluable when we come to draw up an inquiry at some stage,
very likely at the end of this year or the beginning of next year.
Thank you for your evidence this morning.
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