New models of health and social care for people in later life: mapping of innovation in services in two regions of the United Kingdom using a mixed method approach.

Background: Innovation for reforming health and social care is high on the policy agenda in the United Kingdom in response to the growing needs of an ageing population. However, information about new innovations of care being implemented is sparse.

Methods: We mapped innovations for people in later life in two regions, North East England and South East Scotland.

A comparative overview of health and social care policy for older people in England and Scotland, United Kingdom (UK).

Background: Responsibility for health and social care was devolved to Scotland in 1999 with evidence of diverging policy and organisation of care compared to England. This paper provides a comparative overview of major health and social care policies in England and Scotland published between 2011 and 2023 relating to the care of older people.

Methods: We searched United Kingdom (UK) and Scotland government websites for macro-level policy documents between 2011 and 2023 relating to the health and social care of older people (aged 65+).

Continuing professional development: issues raised by nurses and allied health professionals working in musculoskeletal settings.

Background: Nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs) are required to evidence their engagement in continuing professional development (CPD) in order to retain their professional registration. Many challenges to CPD are reported, but little literature has explored pertinent CPD issues for clinicians with specialist roles or working in specialist services. No literature to date has explored the perceptions of CPD held by patients who receive these specialist services.

The continuing professional development for nurses and allied health professionals working within musculoskeletal services: a national UK survey.

Objectives: To explore the current UK status of continuing professional development (CPD) for nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs) working in musculoskeletal (MSK) services in the UK.

Methods: A web-based survey was developed and used to collect data from service managers, nurses and AHPs who work with people who have MSK conditions, recruited through professional interest groups via email and website notices. The questionnaire was designed following focus groups and telephone conference calls with managers and AHPs from MSK services to ensure content validity.

Engagement with continuing professional development: development of a service model.

Unlabelled: An increasing number of extended-scope practitioner roles for nurses and allied health professionals can be found within the national health services in the UK. There has been little specific research into the facilitators and barriers for engagement with continuing professional development (CPD) of this group of health care professionals. This paper presents a review of the issues surrounding participation in, and influencing factors of, continuing professional development for nurses and allied health professionals.

The experience of being disabled and obese.

Purpose: This qualitative study was designed to explore the experiences of disabled and severely obese people living in the community. The challenges that their size and disabilities posed within their homes and in accessing community facilities were explored, with particular reference to the provision and use of assistive technologies.

Methods: The study comprised in-depth interviews with a sample of six severely obese, disabled people using a grounded theory approach.

Using telemedicine to provide post-discharge support for patients with spinal cord injuries.

We are conducting a randomized controlled trial of telemedicine with patients with spinal cord injuries in their own homes. Internet videoconferencing is used at a bandwidth of 128 kbit/s. Data collection began in March 2004.