Work Force Planning for Advanced Practice

In this episode of Advanced Practice Weekly, Ajay Bhatt explores workforce planning through the lens of advanced practice. Richard Ansell from NHS England shares practical approaches to workforce redesign, from clearly defining the problem to implementing sustainable solutions. Tim Yorston joins the conversation to reflect on real-world examples, practical tools, and key lessons learned, offering insights to help advanced practitioners and leaders design roles that meet demand, improve quality, and align with national priorities.

Explore how advanced practice pharmacy is reshaping primary care, through prevention, first strategies, tech-enabled workflows, and moving care closer to home. Learn how pharmacists are leading supervision, driving innovation, and building new models that transform patient outcomes.

Discover how Advanced Practice Practitioners (Becky Lydon and Aileen Robinson) are reshaping musculoskeletal care across West London, showing how they have embraced the NHS 3 shifts — from virtual MDTs to Pain Cafés and community assessment days. Faster access, fewer referrals, and truly patient centred care.A full transcript of this episode is available on our website - www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/trans…ast-transcript/

In this episode of Advanced Practice Weekly, host Ajay Bhatt takes us inside the world of advanced practice in cancer care at the Royal Marsden Hospital. He’s joined by two outstanding professionals Danielle Pinnock and Victoria Sinnett. They offer powerful insights into how advanced practice is shaping patient care, education, and innovation in oncology. Danielle Pinnock, the Coordinating Education Supervisor in Advanced Practice, shares how she supports supervisors across the Trust and helps embed quality education into cancer care pathways. She explains how the Royal Marsden School’s specialised MSc programme is developing skilled practitioners who make complex clinical decisions, lead services, and transform care delivery. Later, Victoria Sinnett, Consultant Breast Radiographer, reflects on her career journey and how advanced practice has enabled radiographers like her to take on expanded clinical roles, providing continuity and compassionate care to patients. From biopsies to presenting in MDTs and pioneering new surgical technology, Victoria’s work is a testament to how advanced practice is redefining the future of oncology services. This episode highlights how advanced practitioners are meeting rising service demands, contributing to innovation, and driving change in cancer care, one patient at a time. 

In this episode, Ajay Bhatt sits down with Debs Harding to explore the Platform for Practice—a thought-provoking framework developed through Harding’s PhD research. Designed to bring clarity to the complex dynamics of clinical supervision, this model takes a holistic view of what shapes a practitioner’s performance: clinical knowledge, skills, lived experiences (in and out of work), behaviours, and personal qualities.Together, Ajay and Debs unpack how this framework helps supervisors have more meaningful, structured, and supportive conversations. From using it to give more balanced feedback, to recognising how someone’s background can shape their clinical confidence, this episode is full of practical insight.Whether you’re a supervisor, educator, or clinician, this discussion will offer fresh ways to support development, value diverse experiences, and enhance the impact of your supervision.Transcript: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/podcast-advanced-practice-weekly-19-ajay-bhatt-debs-harding/

In this week’s episode Ajay Bhatt talks to Elizabeth Hearn Advanced Practitioner Mental Health). They discuss her journey and how her role has changed since completing the MSc.   This is a special series of three podcast showcasing how advanced practitioners in mental health are undertaking leadership, education and workforce transformation roles.

In this week’s episode Ajay Bhatt talks to Laura Pisaneschi (Advanced Practitioner Mental Health). They discuss her journey and how her role has changed since completing the MSc.   This is a special series of three podcast showcasing how advanced practitioners in mental health are undertaking leadership, education and workforce transformation roles.

In this week’s episode Ajay Bhatt talks to Narenza Dhanasar (Advanced Practitioner - Mental Health). They discuss her journey and how her role has changed since completing the MSc.   This is a special series of three podcast showcasing how advanced practitioners in mental health are undertaking leadership, education and workforce transformation roles.

In this week’s episode Ajay Bhatt talks to Georgette Eaton (NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow) about her journey to applying and undertaking a DPhil in Evidence Based Healthcare at the University of Oxford. Looking at this through the lens of Georgette's journey, they discuss the application process to undertake a PhD, and some of the steps that are required to embark on this research pathway. A fascinating insight into what you may want to consider if you want to pursue a career as a clinical academic, and some of the funding options available.   Links to national funding schemes mentioned:   NIHR: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/academy-programmes/fellowship-programme.htm   Wellcome Trust: https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/schemes/phd-fellowships-health-professionals   Links to Georgette's research: https://www.phc.ox.ac.uk/team/georgette-eaton Understanding the roles and work of paramedics in primary care: a national cross-sectional survey: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/12/e067476 Understanding the role of the paramedic in primary care: a realist review: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-021-02019-zContribution of paramedics in primary and urgent care: a systematic review: https://bjgp.org/content/70/695/e421

Natalie Hough, continues her conversation with trainee AP Lauryn Murdoch and her GP Supervisor Dr Salma Ahmed about Advanced Practice in Primary care.  They share how they have structured their supervision and useful tips that have helped their supervision journey.