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A comparison of senior nurses and managers views on the development of mental health services in NHS trusts in London
Author(s) -
Hills B.,
Gulliver P.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of nursing management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2834
pISSN - 0966-0429
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2834.2000.00188.x
Subject(s) - nursing , mental health , nursing management , psychology , senior management , medicine , public relations , political science , psychiatry
Aims To assess how lead nurses and senior managers of mental health services differed in their views concerning the drivers and barriers to service development in London. Background Since 1997, London managers in Mental Health have been surveyed to assess their views about the drivers and barriers to service development (Peck et al . 1997). Under clinical governance, nurses are likely to have an enhanced decision‐making role. Therefore, in 1998, lead nurses were included in the study to identify differences in views. Methods Lead nurses and senior managers of mental health services in Trusts in the London area were sent self‐administered questionnaire. Only if responses were obtained from the lead nurse and senior manager in the Trust were they included in the current analysis. Findings Few differences were identified in the ratings of drivers and barriers to service development. Reasons why lead nurses and senior managers felt drivers and barriers were important differed: senior mangers focused on organizational‐wide development, lead nurses focused staff expertise and clinical issues. Conclusion Although areas of potential conflict are revealed, these areas may also be complimentary. Lead nurses highlight issues of concern for the optimum clinical functioning of the Trust, allowing management to incorporate these concerns into strategic planning.