This past weekend, the nation stopped to celebrate the #NHS at 72!
This milestone has prompted renewed debate on one of the most important discussions of our time – what the health and care system should look like in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Niall Dickson’s recent article – https://www.nhsconfed.org/blog/2020/06/mobilising-our-people – he highlights the need to create and sustain a positive staff experience. Most will of course agree wholeheartedly with him on this point and will welcome the opportunity to consider new ways of working, which will benefit staff and patients alike.
But what is sometimes overlooked or underestimated during transformation programmes is how to equip the workforce with the skills they need to make the changes required. As specialists in training on complex software systems, we have witnessed time and time again the positive impact high quality training has on the effectiveness of organisations and on individual members of staff.
So as attention focuses on how the NHS and care system work differently and better, including using technology to greater effect, let’s also remember that training needs to be at the heart of the planning process.
It is not good enough simply to regard training as a bolt-on, a ‘nice to have’ or a luxury which you buy when you can afford it. To create a positive experience for staff, organisations need to invest in the training needs of each and every individual so they are given the opportunity to develop the skills they need to be not just competent, but highly confident in the technology systems and processes they will use to deliver the very best experience for patients in the future.