Health care staff perceptions of a coaching and mentoring programme: a qualitative case study evaluation

This study aimed to determine the value of the Coaching and Mentoring (C&M) Programme within a large National Health Service (NHS) system (‘Trust’) in London, England. A case study design was utilised with units of analysis: mentors, mentees, coaches, coachees, and line managers. Semi-structured interviews (n=32) took place in 2015. Findings revealed how individuals were able to develop personally and professionally. Findings support the need for more staff opportunities to engage in shared activities. The study also identified the importance of there being strong organisation-wide leadership of the programme, as well as managerial support to enable staff to engage in the programm

The impact of intra-fractional bladder filling on “Plan of the day” adaptive bladder radiotherapy

A retrospective audit on the “Plan of the day” (POD) selection and intra-fractional bladder fillings were carried out on twenty adaptive bladder radiotherapy patients at a single institution. Treatment time, differences in bladder volume and displacement of outer bladder wall expansion over the treatment fraction were analysed. Average treatment time was 8.9 min. The mean percentage difference in bladder volume pre and post treatment was 13.7%, resulting in expansion of the bladder predominately in the superior and anterior directions. This audit confirmed that the institution’s POD process sufficed without being significantly affected by the intra-fractional bladder filings. Keywords: Adaptive bladder radiotherapy, Intra-fractional bladder filling, Plan of the day selectio

Assistant practitioners (APs) perceptions of their developing role and practice in radiography: results from a national survey

IntroductionIn 2000, the NHS Plan set out the government’s plans for investment and reform across the NHS. Through the introduction of a new workforce at assistant practitioner (AP) level the Department of Health intended to implement new ways in which to deliver a more efficient service. At the time, little published information existed on the integration of these assistants into the contemporary radiography workforce. Publications were limited to experiences gained by various individual departments ranging in their perception of the role and education of APs. Further research was suggested to track the continuing implementation of the 4-tier structure, establish the precise nature and scope of the roles across Trusts and determine their impact on workload and patient care.AimTo establish the number and employment locality of APs in radiography professions in England, and to explore their scope of applied practice.Method and materialsThe study was conducted over three phases and employed a mixed methods design to address the aims and objectives. Phase I was a scoping exercise performed prior to data collection in which n = 226 radiography sites were identified for contact across England. Phase II utilized a questionnaire as data collection tool to investigate the role of APs in radiography and explore how their roles were integrated into the radiography workforce in England. Results from phase III of the study which utilized semi-structured qualitative interviews are not included in this paper.Conclusion and discussionKey findings depict the nature and variety of roles and responsibilities undertaken by APs in radiography. This study was the first of its kind to identify the integration of APs in radiography across a sizable geographical region. There were mixed responses to the question asking APs if they were required to perform duties outside their scope of practice. Questionnaire data revealed that a high numbers of APs were working in areas under indirect supervision. Results from this study showed that APs, in some areas at least, were performing the roles of practitioners. Therefore further investigation is needed for new roles to develop criteria to determine which new roles should be the subject of statutory regulation