Evaluating a New Approach for Improving Care in an Accident and Emergency Department: The New Care Project

This report evaluates a partnership initiative between primary and secondary care providers that is intended to improve Accident and Emergency (A&E) services at Northwick Park, one of two large acute hospitals within the North West London Hospitals NHS Trust. It considers how major strides were made during 2002/2003 towards improving A&E services to patients, and how it acted as the site for a major experiment, involving an integrated ëout-of-hoursí primary care and A&E service. Known as the NU-Care project (Northwick Urgent Care), the aim was to introduce new skills into the Department, and to improve links with other existing providers, such as primary care and NHS Direct, and thereby improve the overall patient experience

The experience of outsourcing transfer: implications for guidance and counselling

Outsourcing can involve the forced transfer of employees to another organisation. During or after the transfer they may find their jobs have changed or go through a process of downsizing. They also often have to maintain a relationship with their previous employer as they continue to work on joint projects. In this paper we review relevant research literature and identify important psychological and organisational processes involved in this process, which are of specific interest to guidance and counselling. We also present data from a longitudinal research study in which employees undergoing an outsourcing transfer discussed their experiences. A number of these employees required career counselling and some were undergoing psychological counselling to reduce depression and anxiety. In conclusion, we summarise important issues to be considered by the counsellor when advising individuals going through this process