Developing a needs-based workforce plan for audiology services in England

Background

Internationally, healthcare workforce planning models are focussed on balancing supply and demand, rarely addressing factors such as demographic shifts and evolving health needs. For audiology services, there is a clear imperative for improved workforce planning to ensure adequate staff numbers to deliver services safely and effectively. However there is still no consensus on safe minimum staffing levels or the optimal skill mix for high-quality audiology services.

Methods

This research aimed to estimate the audiology health service workforce requirements in England, to meet current and projected 5 and 10 year demand for services, based on population changes and anticipated changes in demand. Informed by key stakeholders, a needs-based model was developed by (1) analysing NHS England’s National Data Collection for Audiology Services dataset to determine current workforce, (2) creating an epidemiological model to predict changes in service population over next 5 and 10 yrs, and (3) using audiology professional body endorsed estimates on East of England staff grade required per activity.

This research aimed to establish markers of quality in audiology service provision and estimate the audiology workforce requirements to meet current and projected demand for services, based on population changes and anticipated changes in demand. Following stakeholder engagement, a needs-based model was developed by (1) analysing National Data Collection for Audiology Services dataset to determine current workforce, (2) creating an epidemiological model to predict changes in service population over next 5 and 10 yrs (3) use of BAA endorsed estimates delivered in East of England on staff grade required per activity.

Results

The estimates for 10-year adult and paediatric audiology service whole time equivalent (WTE) safe minimum staffing levels for England (bands 2-7, current waiting times maintained) based on a population change model (Model 1), and two further models for paediatrics specifically (Model 2 and Model 3) were as follows: for adult audiology Model 1 estimates a 7.40% increase by 2035 (to 1125.18 WTE). For paediatric audiology Model 1 estimates a −6.3% (to 593.47 WTE) decrease due to underlying paediatric population decline in England, whereas the case complexities considered in Model 2 (1072.33 WTE) and Model 3 estimate a 10-year increase of 71.23% (to 1072.33 WTE) and 59.17% (to 996.82 WTE) respectively.

Conclusions

This is the first study to conduct a needs-based assessment of workforce requirements for UK audiology services and shows a substantial need to increase the audiology workforce. Investment in audiology workforce recruitment and training is essential to ensure that future activity levels meet population needs and that quality care is delivered. Consideration of changing demographics is required for planning future workforce specialisation. Further analysis to address workforce equity, the impact of changes in skill mix and service delivery models and local area demographics/prevalence variation is required alongside potential efficiencies.