Inequalities of provision of nationally funded clinical academic training awards for healthcare professionals: quantitative comparisons across the four nations of the UK.

Peters, Andy; Cameron, Heather; Cunningham, Scott; Dawkes, Susan; Donaldson, Jayne; Hughes, Liz; Savinc, Jan; MacArthur, Juliet

Abstract

There is a common perception that investment in clinical academic training awards for healthcare professions (not medicine and dentistry) in England outweighs that in the devolved nations (Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) of the United Kingdom. We aimed to evaluate this perception by gathering data on the number of such awards made and the level of associated expenditure by each of the nations during 2017-2022. Freedom of Information requests were sent to government agencies that provide nationally funded clinical academic training awards in each UK nation. Data on the number of awards provided, the whole time equivalent salaries and durations applicable, and the expenditures entailed in the period 2017-2022 were broken down into six levels of training; from internship through to post-doctoral. Standardised per capita comparisons were made between nations. Large differences were found between nations. Only England provided awards in all categories. Wales made the most awards per capita. Scotland invested less than a sixth of that spent by England per capita and under half of that spent by Wales or Northern Ireland. Strategic approaches focusing on opportunities across the whole career pathway, particularly in the devolved nations, are recommended to achieve cross-national parity.

Citation

PETERS, A., CAMERON, H., CUNNINGHAM, S., DAWKES, S., DONALDSON, J., HUGHES, L., SAVINC, J. and MACARTHUR, J. [2024]. Inequalities of provision of nationally funded clinical academic training awards for healthcare professionals: quantitative comparisons across the four nations of the UK. Journal of research in nursing [online], (accepted).

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 28, 2024
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 7, 2024
• Journal: Journal of research in nursing
• Print ISSN: 1744-9871
• Electronic ISSN: 1744-988X
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: Health personnel; Health services research; Training support; Fellowships and scholarships; Career mobility; United Kingdom
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2509651
• Additional Information: This article has been published with separate supporting information. This supporting information has been incorporated into a single file on this repository and can be found at the end of the file associated with this output.