The British Geriatrics Society (BGS) has published a new report, The case for more nurses and allied health professionals working in older people’s healthcare. The report analyses data provided by NHS England in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. It collates figures on the number of nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs) working in older people’s healthcare across England, broken down by grade and geographical location.
The report raises concerns about the lack of data on the workforce of nurses and AHPs currently caring for older people and about the quality of the data that is available. However, the BGS views publishing this data as a key first step in encouraging the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure the collection of more comprehensive, accurate and accessible workforce data. Given the UK’s ageing population, it will be increasingly important to have reliable information for workforce planning.
Findings from the report show that, on average in England, there is one nurse specialising in older people’s healthcare for every 120 people aged 85 and over. In some regions this is better, including the North East and Yorkshire with a ratio of 1:79. However, in other regions, such as the East of England, the ratio is worse at 1:165.
The data shows a shortage of allied health professionals with on average just one AHP working with older people for every 3,012 people aged 85 and over in England. Again, the East of England has particularly alarming numbers with the ratio being 1:19,637. These figures are unlikely to be accurate, but nevertheless they point to a workforce shortage.
The figures show that 66% of nurses working with older people are at band 5 level, which is the entry-level for newly registered nurses. 46% of AHPs are working at band 6 level, and these professionals are most likely to be working in specialist older people’s services. AHPs working below this level may be working with the general population and therefore not identified as specialising in older people’s healthcare. Given that older people use NHS services more than any other population group, it is important that workforce data is properly captured, and the workforce has the skills required to meet the needs of older people.
The BGS is now calling for accurate and complete data about the numbers of nurses and AHPs working with older people, with breakdowns across all regions and care settings including details about roles and responsibilities. This data should be published annually.
Professor Jugdeep Dhesi, BGS President, said:
These findings paint a stark picture of the workforce shortages in older people’s healthcare. As the single largest user group of the NHS, older people should have their healthcare needs met by a well-resourced, skilled, multidisciplinary workforce. Nurses and AHPs play a crucial role in the delivery of care across all settings, and their vital contribution should not be under-valued.
Data is essential to understanding of the current workforce and enabling planning for the future. Given how limited and unreliable this dataset currently is, a positive first step for the Department of Health and Social Care would be to commit to improving its accuracy and completeness, and to regular publication of the figures.
We must act now to build a workforce that can meet the needs of our ageing population.”