News » Research, Rurality » Bouncing lambs identified as a staffing benefit in rural areas
September 29th 2023
Lambs bouncing around right outside your window has been highlighted as a driver to recruitment and retention of dispensers in rural areas.
For patients reduced time and costs associated with accessing medicines was also a benefit, and for staff, offering a good service to patients was important for job satisfaction and retention.
The findings come in new research into the recruitment and retention of staff in rural dispensing practice supported by the DDA.
Work environment was just one of four identified themes relating to drivers of, and challenges to, recruitment and retention of staff. The others covered: characteristics of roles in rural dispensing practice, importance of dispensing and staff access to healthcare.
Interviewed staff reported reasons for taking up employment in rural dispensing practices such as perceived career autonomy, development opportunities, and preference for working and living in a rural setting.
Research participants also cited the positive team environments encountered during training. A well-functioning team was described as staff feeling supported within their role, having the opportunity to seek support or advice, and having clear lines of communication across the multidisciplinary team,
However, among the barriers to recruitment are the skills required for dispensers’ roles balanced against low wages. For nurses, barriers included perceived lack of knowledge around their role in rural care.
Travel difficulties and lack of applicants as well as a lack of anonymity in accessing healthcare, concerns over confidentiality of medical records, and conflicts of employer and doctor roles for staff patients not fit to work were also identified as barriers to retention.
The study found that dispensing of medications is a rural service valued by patients and which significantly contributes to financial stability of rural dispensing practices. Dispensing may also contribute to improved medication adherence.
The UK National Centre for Rural Health and Care (NCRHC) recently highlighted the higher costs of delivering primary healthcare in rural compared to urban settings. Their report identified unique factors affecting rural recruitment, including migration of younger people from rural areas, high local employment rates, and absence of rural proofing in workforce planning. In Scotland, rural GPs report higher rates of intention to leave primary care employment in the next five years than their non-rural counterparts.
View the abstract
View the full article
