References and appendices

References and appendices showing regional variation in staff ratio and the impact of knowledge and library services

References

1. NHS Library and Knowledge Services in England Policy, HEE, October 2016 https://www.hee.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/NHS%20Library%20and%20Knowledg e%20Services%20in%20England%20Policy.pdf

2. Knowledge for Healthcare: a development framework for NHS Library and knowledge services, December 2014 https://www.hee.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Knowledge_for_healthcare_a_development_framework_2014.pdf

3. Source: HEE (2019) LKS statistical return for NHS LKS staffing in England: 2019- 20 [Unpublished]

4. Library and Knowledge Services in England Annual Statistical returns, 2014 – 2019

5. See https://www.cqc.org.uk/provider/RKB/services

6. Sadera, G. et al The Librarian as knowledge mobilise in critical care: Summary. Wirrall University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Aug 2019.

7. Preparing the healthcare workforce to deliver the digital future: an independent report on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, HEE February 2019 https://topol.hee.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/HEE-Topol-Review-2019.pdf

Appendix 1: regional variations in staff ratio

London/KSS

WTE LKS qualified posts from the 2018 stats return: 224.42

WTE NHS staff at December 2018: 264,819

Ratio of qualified LKS staff to NHS staff - WTE: 1:1,180

Midlands and East

WTE LKS qualified posts from the 2018 stats return: 142.56

WTE NHS staff at December 2018: 299,522

Ratio of qualified LKS staff to NHS staff - WTE: 1:2,101

North

WTE LKS qualified posts from the 2018 stats return: 154.63

WTE NHS staff at December 2018: 348,694

Ratio of qualified LKS staff to NHS staff - WTE: 1:2,255

South

WTE LKS qualified posts from the 2018 stats return: 104.73

WTE NHS staff at December 2018: 169,942

Ratio of qualified LKS staff to NHS staff - WTE: 1:1,622

Ratio of qualified LKS staff to NHS staff - WTE: 1:2,255

Total

WTE LKS qualified posts from the 2018 stats return: 629.34

WTE NHS staff at December 2018: 1,082,977

Ratio of qualified LKS staff to NHS staff - WTE: 1:1,729

Appendix 2. Illustrating the impact of library and knowledge services

Case study 1: Improving patient care

Evidence supplied by the knowledge specialist at Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust led to a trial of high-dose vitamin D for a patient with unrelenting chest systems which cured symptoms of Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome.

“The patient symptoms resolved within three months once blood vitamin D levels rose.” Dr V Varney, Consultant Physician

The success of this innovative low-cost treatment led to a cure for unrelenting chest symptoms and has changed international practice.

The ratio of qualified librarians to healthcare staff at Epsom and St Helier is 1:803

Case study 2: Cost effectiveness

Serving on the Product Selection Committee at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, the clinical librarian provided input essential to achieve £1.9 million in savings

“Having this information available alters our opinions, confirms ideas and influences our decision-making. It also helps us to engage with staff more effectively and makes change management easier. I would recommend that all change management committees consider including a librarian in their meetings”. Deb Bolton, Clinical Procurement Manager

The ratio of qualified librarians to healthcare staff at Brighton and Sussex is 1:614

Case study 3: Releasing time

Working across the maternity and governance teams, the clinical librarian at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust efficiently delivered a comprehensive body of evidence leading to 55 updates to their former midwifery policies and guidelines.

This released 302.5 hours of the midwife’s time, equivalent to a saving of £12,397.

“The librarian has saved me time… they are able to find evidence where I think there is none to be found“. Gaynor Armstrong, Governance Lead Midwife

The ratio of qualified librarians to healthcare staff at George Eliot is 1:720.

Case study 4: Improving productivity

The knowledge specialist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS FT summarised evidence on 11 key topics to identify interventions to deliver health benefits and contribute to quality and efficiency savings for system-wide transformation.

“I was impressed with the quality of the work …, particularly in terms of the timescales and it made our job a lot easier. It made us able to focus much more on the other elements of the jigsaw. If we hadn’t had the library service, I don’t think we could have done what was done within that timescale.” Kate Hardman, Intelligence, Quality and Performance Manager, Lancashire Public Health

The ratio of qualified librarians to healthcare staff at Lancashire is 1:932

Case study 5: Knowledge management

The Head of Library Services and Knowledge Management at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust completed HEE’s Utilising Evidence and Organisation Knowledge Self-assessment tool with the Medical Division Board.

The experience of completing the self-assessment made the Chief of Medicine more aware of the potential of working with the knowledge services team and particularly in relation to using their Knowledge management skills.

This has helped the team introduce a more robust approach to developing clinical guidelines at the Trust.

“Completing the self-assessment tool has changed the way we will work and how we will use evidence and knowledge. The library team should be our knowledge stewards in the same way as microbiology are the antibiotic stewards for the Trust.” Ben Mearns Chief of Medicine Surrey and Sussex Healthcare

The ratio of qualified librarians to healthcare staff at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare is 1:942