Patients lose out when the NHS workforce is divided

Advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) are a vital part of a modern, multi-disciplinary NHS workforce that delivers safe, effective and patient-centred care. That’s why our members voted overwhelmingly at this year’s health conference to support their growing contribution to the NHS.

Our ACP members will be pleased to feel the support and recognition from their colleagues and the union’s commitment to ensure they can continue to deliver quality patient care. But recently they have been the target of an increasingly hostile public debate about their place in the NHS workforce. 

Long-standing underfunding of health services rightly raises fears about how employers may seek to plug staffing shortages. More safeguards are needed. But those concerns mustn't result in division or the undermining of roles which have done so much to enhance NHS services.

These roles are not designed to replace that of doctors or other medical professionals, but to complement the skills and expertise of their colleagues working together as part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver safe and effective patient care. 

There are tens of thousands of advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) working safely and effectively in the NHS. These include nurses, paramedics and occupational therapists. They are highly experienced, registered healthcare professionals who have undertaken advanced education and training at masters’ level.

Our ACP members tell us they provide evidence-based, patient-centred care and always keep the patient and their families at the core of what they do. They are autonomous and accountable for their practice while working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

There is an ever-growing body of evidence that shows ACPs deliver quality patient care and their contribution has been recognised as essential across the health care system.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine said in 2022 that the main driver for the expansion of the use of ACPs was not driving down costs and substitution but “changing patient needs, greater access to services, quality and continuity in care and career progression for nursing and AHP professions.”

Our ACP members feel that the recent hostile debate has caused division and is creating tension in professional relationships, undermining their ability to provide quality patient care. We want to make sure their voices are heard to maintain and strengthen their support, governance and career progression so they can continue to deliver for patients and the NHS.

That’s why we will spotlight the role of our ACP members, work with relevant organisations across the health service to ensure we can protect our ACP members and ensure there is consistency across regulatory frameworks. 

The NHS relies on good team working and mutual respect between professional groups to deliver the best care for patients and we will work together to ensure that patient care gets the funding it requires and patients get the care they need.