Introduction
Traverse is currently conducting an independent evaluation of the Clinical Endoscopy Pilot Training Programme which is intended to ensure that there are more trained endoscopists who can help to meet the growing demand within endoscopy services in England, build workforce capacity, and address waiting times for diagnostic services
Introduction
Traverse is currently conducting an independent evaluation of the Non-Medical Endoscopy Pilot Training Programme which is intended to ensure that there are more trained endoscopists who can help to meet the growing demand within endoscopy services in England, build workforce capacity, and address waiting times for diagnostic services
Methodology
The evaluation combines formative and summative elements and is designed to explore a range of questions including, arrangements for developing the programme, effectiveness of the content and delivery of the programme, understanding how trainees progressed through different elements of the course, outcomes from attending the training and feedback from patients on the quality of care provided. The evaluation is utilising qualitative, quantitative, observation and monitoring data to inform the reporting. It also includes desk research which looks at international comparators for the programme. The report is expected to receive a high level of scrutiny as the proposal for an accelerated programme to train non-medical personnel to undertake these procedures is not without challenge. We have now completed the first year of the evaluation and our client is very happy with our work so far. Through regular contact and reporting we have supported the development of the programme throughout its first year, making recommendations which are genuinely supportive and helpful, and which have already been proven to improve the programme for later waves of trainees.
We have drawn on a range of evidence sources including both quantitative and qualitative research with the trainees and their mentors, qualitative research with the patients who experienced endoscopy delivered by the trainees, and analysis of monitoring information gathered by the programme team. We gathered information from a number of organisations involved in the programme delivery. This was triangulated to form a full picture of the causal impact of the programme, in terms of whether it successfully upskilled people to be fully functioning endoscopists in an accelerated timeframe, while also monitoring for unintended consequences including whether by accelerating the non-medical programme, medical students had reduced access to training lists.
Impact
After a successful first year evaluation, which directly influenced the design of the longer-term programme, we have recently been awarded a contract extension to follow the successful trainees through their start in their role as a fully certified endoscopist.
“HEE has been working with OPM for a year on a national evaluation project. We have been very pleased with progress on the project to date. OPM have approached the work openly, been willing to seek, receive and share ideas in taking forward the project brief, and worked well with a wide range of external participants. They have also shown commitment to delivering agreed outputs and timelines. OPM’s recommendations, included in two interim evaluation reports, will also shape the longer-term development of the NME programme.”
Donna Sidonio, Diagnostics Programme Manager, Health Education England
