NHS University
Encyclopedia
The NHS University was a part of the United Kingdom
's National Health Service
tasked with training NHS staff. It was abolished in 2005.
The NHSU was originally proposed by the Labour Party
in the lead up to the 2001 general election
, which was followed by a consultation exercise between November 2002 and May 2003. The organisation was launched in December 2003 as a special health authority
.
At its launch, its main aims were to improve the training of NHS staff by:
The organisation claimed to have made much progress on achieving these aims with the creation of a large number of different training programmes and the setting up of a training helpline for staff called the u-i.
However, with the publication of the "Reconfiguring the Department of Health's
arm's length bodies" report in July 2004, it was decided to reduce the number and size of the Special Health Authorities in order to bring about efficiency savings. On 30 September 2004, the then Secretary of State for Health
, John Reid, announced that the NHSU would be merged with the NHS Modernisation Agency
to form the new NHS Institute for Learning, Skills and Innovation, now NHS Institute For Innovation and Improvement
. This merging would allow the cutting of staff from 1,500 to 300 people.
The NHSU was officially dissolved on 31 July 2005, with its 23 remaining learning programmes being transferred to the Skills for Health
organisation by 29 September 2005.
In 2007, following a two year campaign under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
, the report written by Sir William Wells, into the NHSu was released. This described the cost of the organisation and management failures.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
tasked with training NHS staff. It was abolished in 2005.
The NHSU was originally proposed by the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
in the lead up to the 2001 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
, which was followed by a consultation exercise between November 2002 and May 2003. The organisation was launched in December 2003 as a special health authority
NHS Special Health Authority
A special health authority is a type of NHS trust which provide services on behalf of the National Health Service in England. Unlike other types of Trust, they operate nationally rather than serve a specific geographical area....
.
At its launch, its main aims were to improve the training of NHS staff by:
- creating and improving opportunities for learning,
- creating high quality learning environments,
- leading research into future learning needs.
The organisation claimed to have made much progress on achieving these aims with the creation of a large number of different training programmes and the setting up of a training helpline for staff called the u-i.
However, with the publication of the "Reconfiguring the Department of Health's
Department of Health (United Kingdom)
The Department of Health is a department of the United Kingdom government with responsibility for government policy for health and social care matters and for the National Health Service in England along with a few elements of the same matters which are not otherwise devolved to the Scottish,...
arm's length bodies" report in July 2004, it was decided to reduce the number and size of the Special Health Authorities in order to bring about efficiency savings. On 30 September 2004, the then Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Health is a UK cabinet position responsible for the Department of Health.The first Boards of Health were created by Orders in Council dated 21 June, 14 November, and 21 November 1831. In 1848 a General Board of Health was created with the First Commissioner of Woods and...
, John Reid, announced that the NHSU would be merged with the NHS Modernisation Agency
NHS Modernisation Agency
The NHS Modernisation Agency was an executive agency of the Department of Health in the United Kingdom. It was established in April 2001 to support the National Health Service in England, and its partner organisations, in the task of modernising services and improving experiences and outcomes for...
to form the new NHS Institute for Learning, Skills and Innovation, now NHS Institute For Innovation and Improvement
NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement
The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement is a special health authority of the National Health Service in England. It "supports the NHS to transform healthcare for patients and the public by rapidly developing and spreading new ways of working, new technology and world-class...
. This merging would allow the cutting of staff from 1,500 to 300 people.
The NHSU was officially dissolved on 31 July 2005, with its 23 remaining learning programmes being transferred to the Skills for Health
Sector Skills Councils
Sector Skills Councils are state-sponsored, employer-led organisations that cover specific economic sectors in the United Kingdom. They have four key goals:* to reduce skills gaps and shortages* to improve productivity...
organisation by 29 September 2005.
In 2007, following a two year campaign under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Freedom of Information Act 2000
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that creates a public "right of access" to information held by public authorities. It is the implementation of freedom of information legislation in the United Kingdom on a national level...
, the report written by Sir William Wells, into the NHSu was released. This described the cost of the organisation and management failures.