Health care technology diffusion in the NHS and workforce impact The London School of Economics and Political Science

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) team will investigate the effect that new health care technologies have on the NHS workforce. The overall aim of the project is to support efficient and effective workforce planning.

The research will focus on the uptake of innovative surgical procedures. The team will interview clinicians plus stakeholders from organisations such as NHS England and clinical commissioning groups to identify four or more procedures that have had a significant impact on working practices. They will consider both:

• standalone technologies which do not compete with a more established surgical procedure, such as carotid endarterectomy for stroke prevention
• surgical innovations which offer an alternative to medical treatment, such as bariatric surgery.

Once the case study procedures have been selected, the team will analyse national data to measure:

• uptake and spread of the procedures
• the impact on staffing composition and expenditure at hospital trust level
• the impact on patient outcomes such as life expectancy.

The researchers will conduct follow-up interviews with clinicians and stakeholders to gain further insight into the ways in which the procedures have affected the NHS workforce. Specific effects could, for example, include changes in theatre use or new discharge practices.

Expected outcomes

The team will develop an impact case to inform policy decisions relating to surgical procedures and workforce planning. The project is due to be completed by September 2018.

Contact details

For more information, contact Alistair McGuire, Chair in Health Economics at LSE.