Cooperation between physiotherapists and researchers at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust could be strengthened by the trust’s first strategy for allied health professions (AHPs).
Members of the trust’s AHP staff at the launch of their strategy
A key objective of the three-year strategy, launched at the end of 2016, is to open up opportunities for AHPs to participate in research to improve patient services.
Caring for an older population, patient safety and seven-day services are among the areas of research where AHPs are expected to contribute, according to the document.
‘We want to have much stronger links with R&D and make sure we are using their resources and capabilities,’ said Sarah Dyson, clinical physiotherapy specialist in critical care at Liverpool and Broadgreen.
The strategy also sets out how AHPs will contribute to better quality of care across the trust, develop their skills and knowledge, support new staff, lead change and help to transform healthcare.
Developed after more than 500 AHPs – eight per cent of the trust’s workforce – had opportunities to contribute, the strategy is intended to enable them to promote their roles and skills.
It is also designed to inform the wider organisation about their work and generate more commitment to AHPs.
‘I hope this strategy raises the profile of all the AHPs and brings us to the forefront so that we are as involved as possible in all the developments across the trust,’ said Ms Dyson.
‘But also across the city, where there are transformation and development programmes, lot of changes within commissioning groups and the Healthy Liverpool programme.’
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