Dmytro Babelyuk
Bangor University, UK
Title: A health economics approach to medical workforce planning in rural health board in the North Wales: Towards a community-based model
Biography
Biography: Dmytro Babelyuk
Abstract
Background: Post pandemic challenges exacerbated and created more demands for smart visionary health economics decisions regarding modern medical workforce planning, especially in rural regions in Wales. The NHS currently has a shortage of around 100,000 full-time medical staff in the United Kingdom (UK). Only 36% of consultant physician posts in Wales were filled in 2021. The reason for 71% of unsuccessful appointments was the absence of applicants.
Objective: The objective of this doctoral research is to identify approaches to training and recruiting medical professionals within the framework of the current model which is moving to a more community-based model. The aim of this reform strategy is to assist Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB) to recruit the qualified and well-trained medical professionals in a cost-effective way.
Methods: During this doctoral research different methods will be used. The key one is PBMA, which will be supplied by systematic literature review, targeted surveys and personal interviews. Programme Budgeting and Marginal Analysis (PBMA) is an approach that assists decision-makers optimise the influence of healthcare resources on the health demands of a local population by analysing the current financial allocations and thinking for improvements.
Expected results: Using the health economics toolbox, this doctoral thesis will provide economic evidence regarding the cost-benefits and cost-effectiveness of operationalising HDUHBs strategy of training future medical professionals from the local community. Current training and recruitment practices will be described in detail along with costs to the NHS in Wales. Findings from this thesis will be disseminated to the other Health Boards in Wales as well as internationally.
Discussion: The results of this doctoral thesis will benefit decision-makers and policymakers with future workforce planning by gaining a deeper understanding of a staffing issue in terms of local education and retaining medical professionals in rural areas in the UK and internationally.