Human Resources, Organisational Development and Workforce Development in the NHS

A Review of Recent Research

Miller L, Broughton A, Tamkin P, Reilly P, Regan J |   | NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement | Sep 2007

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The NHS plan (2002) proposed reforms to improve the working lives and careers of NHS employees. Human Resource (HR) and Organisational Development (OD) practitioners within the NHS were seen as being key players within this agenda.

The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (NHS Institute) commissioned IES to review and summarise existing research findings regarding the role of HR/OD in workforce development and to put forward suggestions for the further development of roles and activities of HR and OD practitioners in the NHS. This report is the outcome of that work.

The report outlines:

  • the people management models that are in use within the UK and internationally
  • the available evidence that implementation progressive HR policies leads to enhanced productivity, efficiency and service improvement
  • the evidence of their successful use within the NHS and other health services (eg in other countries) and for the functional impact of particular HR initiatives in achieving sustainable service improvement and transformation in the healthcare sector
  • recommendations for the sorts of good practice people management examples the NHS should bear in mind when considering making organisational changes and service reforms.