The expansion of support staff roles throughout the NHS was identified as a key element in the drive for service improvements set out in the NHS plan (Department of Health 2000). However, while examination of the literature identified the opinions of professional representative bodies (Perioperative Care Collaborative 2002a&b), little published data is available of the opinions of staff ‘on the shop floor’.
AikenL.H., ClarkeS.P., SloaneD.M., SochalskiJ., SilberJ.H.2002Hospital nurse staffing and patient mortality, nurse burnout and job dissatisfactionJournal of the American Medical Association288(16) 1987–1993
2.
BossS.2002Expanding the perioperative roleBritish Journal of Perioperative Nursing12(3) 105–113
3.
Department of Health2000The NHS Plan: A plan for investment, a plan for reformLondon, Department of Health
4.
Department of Health2002HR in the NHS Plan: More staff working differentlyLondon, Department of Health
5.
Department of Health2003Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2003 – Implementation for doctors in training: derogation guidanceLondon, Department of Health
Department of Health and Social Security1970Organisation and Staffing of Operating Departments (The Lewin Report) London, Her Majesty's Stationary Office
8.
DimondB.2002Legal Aspects of NursingHarlow, Longman
Health Professions Council2004Standards of Conduct, Performance and EthicsLondon, Health Professions Council
11.
HeapC.2001Trained and unqualifiedBritish Journal of Anaesthetic and Recovery Nursing2(1) 6–9
12.
HindM.2001Healthcare support workers and the scrubbed roleBritish Journal of Perioperative Nursing1(6) 262–268
13.
HindM., JacksonD., AndrewsC., FullbrookP., GavinK., FrostS.2000Healthcare support workers in the critical care settingNursing in Critical Care5(1) 31–39
14.
JarmanB., GaultS., AlvesB.1999Explaining differences in English hospital death rates using routinely collected dataBritish Medical Journal318(7197) 1515–1520
15.
KendalL., LissauerR.2003The Future Health WorkerLondon, Institute for Public Policy Research
16.
LankshearA.J., SheldonT.A., MaynardA.2005Nurse staffing and health outcomes: A systematic review of international research evidenceAdvances in Nursing Science28(2) 163–174
17.
LombardM., BrownJ., HallG., SturgessR.1997Mechanism of accountability needs to be developed for changing role of healthcare professionals (Letters)British Medical Journal3141833
18.
MooreS.2002Changing the workforceBritish Journal of Perioperative Nursing12(6) 218–221
19.
MurrayW.J.G.1999Nurses in Surgery – opportunity or threat? A personal viewBritish Journal of Theatre Nursing9(8) 365–368
20.
NewhouseR.P., JohnatgenM., PronovostP.J., JohnsonE.2005Perioperative nurses and patient outcomes: mortality, complications and length of stayAORN Journal81(3) 508–528
21.
NHS Management Executive1991Junior Doctors: The New DealLondon, National Health Service Management Executive
22.
NHS Modernisation Agency2004Public Perceptions of Surgical Practitioners [working title] Report of Qualitative Research London NHS Modernisation Agency [Unpublished]
23.
Nursing and Midwifery Council2004NMC Code of Professional Conduct: Standards of Conduct, Performance and EthicsLondon, Nursing and Midwifery Council
24.
PearceyP.2000Role perceptions of auxiliary nurses: An exploratory studyNT Research5(1) 55–63
25.
Perioperative Care Collaborative2004a Position Statement: Optimising the contribution of the perioperative support workerHarrogate, PCC
26.
Perioperative Care Collaborative2004b Position Statement: Delegation; the support worker in the scrub roleHarrogate, PCC
ScottH.2003a Nursing must begin researching its impact on patient outcomesBritish Journal of Nursing12(14) 832
29.
ScottH.2003b Healthcare assistants would like to be registered nursesBritish Journal of Nursing12(17) 1000
30.
Sketchly-KayeJ.2000The support worker in theatresBritish Journal of Perioperative Nursing10(2) 83–85
31.
Skills for Health2005Emergency, Urgent and Scheduled Care Available from www.skillsforhealth.org.uk [accessed 01/07/2006]
32.
SmithH.2003Healthcare Assistants: to scrub or not to scrub?British Journal of Perioperative Nursing13(10) 420–424
33.
ThornleyC.1996Segmentation and inequality in the nursing workforce; re-evaluating the evaluation of skills In: CromptonR., GallieD., & PurcellK. (Eds) Changing Forms of Employment: Organisations, Skills and GenderLondon, Routledge
34.
ThornleyC.2000A question of competence? Re-evaluating the roles of the nursing auxiliary and health care assistant in the NHSJournal of Clinical Nursing9451–458
35.
Welsh Assembly Government2003NHS Staff Vacancies Available from: www.wales.gov.uk
