Table Of ContentThe Practice Development Unit:
An experiment in multidisciplinary
innovation
The Practice
Development Unit:
An experiment in
multidisciplinary
innovation
Edited by
Steve Page RGN, BA (Hons),M Sc
David Allsopp RGN, BSc (Hons),M A
Sally Casley RGN, RM,D MS, FETC
W
Whurr Publishers Ltd
London
0 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd
First published 1998 by
Whurr Publishers Ltd
l9b Compton Terrace, London N1 2UN, England
Reprinted 2000 and 2003
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in
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photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior
permission of Whurr Publishers Limited.
This publication is sold subject to the conditions that it
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prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than
that in which it is published and without a similar
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any subsequent purchaser.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the
British Library.
ISBN 1 86156 052 4
Printed and bound by CPI Antony Rowe, Eastbourne
Contents
List of contributors vii
Preface xi
Introduction 1
Part I: Development and support of the Practice Development Unit
Chapter 1 9
Origins of the Practice Development Unit: an approach to radical
change in a multidisciplinary setting
David Alkopp, Debbie L.ee and Hugo Masck-'Tylor
Chapter 2 29
The Practice Development Unit concept and structure
Steve Page, Debbie Lee and Hugo Mascie-'Tylor
Chapter 3 56
Developing the model
Steve Page
Chapter 4 74
Narrowing the gap between practice development and service
management
Steve Page
Chapter 5 a9
Practice Development Units and Nursing Development Units: a
comparison
David Allsopp
V
Part 11: The PDU in practice
Chapter 6 109
Multidisciplinary innovation
David Allsopp
Chapter 7 130
Research and the Practice Development Unit
David Allsopp
Chapter 8 153
Staff empowerment
Sally Casley
Chapter 9 173
Patient empowerment
David Allsopp and Mike Lowry
Chapter 10 191
Networking for innovation
Steve Page
Chapter 11 213
Dissemination of Practice Development Unit work
Steve Page
Chapter 12 229
The contribution of the Seacroft Practice Development Unit
Sally Casley, Dad Allsopp, Steue Page and Angela Turner
References 259
Index 263
Contributors
Editors and major contributors
David Allsopp RGN, BSc (Hons), MA Lecturer in Nursing,
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, Manchester
University. Formerly Research Practitioner, Practice Develop-
ment Unit, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds.
Sally Casley RGN, RM, DMS, FETC Deputy Head, Effective
Practice Unit, St.J ames’s and Seacroft University Hospitals NHS
Trust, Leeds. Formerly Practice Development Unit Leader,
Seacroft Hospital, Leeds, 1996-1 997.
Debbie Lee RGN, DipN, CIhl, MBA Nursing Officer, Depart-
ment of Health. Formerly Patient Services ManagerIPractice
Development Unit Director, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds.
Mike Lowry RGN, B.Ed.(Hons), RNT, M.Ed, PGCRM
Senior Lecturer in Nursing, Leeds Metropolitan University.
Hugo Mascie-Taylor FRCP (Lond), FRCPI, MHSM,
A.DipC. Director of Commissioning, Leeds Health Authority
Formerly Consultant Physician - Medicine for the Elderly /Prac-
tice Development Unit Director, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds.
Steve Page RGN, BA (Hons), MSc Directorate Head of Nursing
- Surgery, Royal Victoria lnfirmary and Associated Hospitals
NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne. Formerly Practice Develop-
ment Unit Leader, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds, 1994-1 996.
-
Angela Turner RGN, RSCN, FETC, PG Dip Quality
Assurance and Social Care Director of Nursing Services -
Surgery, Kingsmill Centre for Health Services, Notts. Formerly
Programme Director, Institute of Nursing at Leeds University.
vii
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The Practice Development Unit
Wll
Additional contributors
Chapters 1 and 2
Carol Williams Assistant Director of Nursing, Cornwall Health-
care Trust. Original Practice Development Unit Leader.
Chapter 6
Jane Farley Ward Manager, Practice Development Unit, Seacroft
Hospital.
Lynn George Senior Dietitian, Seacroft Hospital.
Chapter 7
Janis Brown Staff Nurse, Practice Development Unit, Seacroft
Hospital.
Cathy Lowe Senior Pharmacist, Pharmacy Academic Practice
Unit, Leeds University. Formerly Senior Pharmacist, Seacroft
Hospital.
Chapter 8
Gwen Al-Khaili Clinical Sister, Chapel Allerton Hospital.
Formerly Staff Nurse, Practice Development Unit, Seacroft
Hospital.
Karen Atkinson Ward Sister, St James’s Hospital. Formerly Staff
Nurse, Practice Development Unit, Seacroft Hospital.
Tracy Cloke Ward Manager, Practice Development Unit, Seacroft
Hospital.
Mary Dawson Formerly Senior Occupational Therapist, Seacroft
Hospital (now retired).
Aiden Devlin Clinical Support Worker, Practice Development
Unit, Seacroft Hospital.
Jane Farley Ward Manager, Practice Development Unit, Seacroft
Hospital.
Pat Fletcher Senior Physiotherapist, Seacroft Hospital.
June Lancaster Divisional Manager/Senior Nurse, Trauma
related Services, St James’s Hospital. Formerly Hospital Services
ManagerIPractice Development Unit Director, Seacroft Hospital.
Mandy Phelan-Oldfield Ward Manager, Practice Development
Unit, Seacroft Hospital.
Contributors ix
Charlie Teale Consultant Physician - Medicine for the Elderly,
Seacroft Hospital.
Chapter 9
Liz Hayward Ward Manager, Seacroft Hospital.
Chris Patterson Senior Registrar, St James’s Hospital. Formerly
Senior Registrar, Seacroft Hospital.
Irene Waddington Formerly Staff Nurse, Practice Development
Unit, Seacroft Hospital (now retired).
Chapter 10
Nicky David Ward Sister, St James’s Hospital. Formerly Ward
Sister, Seacroft Hospital.
Mandy Phelan-Oldfield Ward Manager, Practice Development
Unit, Seacroft Hospital.
Preface
The Practice Development Unit (PDU) was established to provide a
focus within its hospital for multidisciplinary practice development
and research, and to support dissemination of innovation.
The Seacroft unit was the originator of the model, which was
developed as a result of dissatisfaction with the capacity of the Nurs-
ing Development Unit approach to address the multidisciplinary
nature of health care. Although originally differences between the
two approaches were only vaguely defined, after six years of contin-
ued development, significant differences are now apparent in their
philosophy, focus and organisation of work, and potential benefits.
Key among these differences is the extent to which the PDU
operates beyond the confines of a unidisciplinary focus, and
addresses the pressing need to break down barriers and tackle issues
at the interfaces of practice - between disciplines, between clinical
staff and managers, between hospital and community, between
academics and practitioners. This facility uniquely equips the PDU
to deal with many of the current clinical and managerial priorities in
the health service, as well as remaining an effective vehicle for devel-
opment within the professional disciplines.
Within its own organisation, the PDU has brought about signxi-
cant culture change and numerous developments which have been
freely shared. This has resulted in an impact on quality of patient
care which is well recognised both inside and outside the hospital;
and the unit has been acknowledged as a key resource for the organ-
isation as a whole.
The unit and its activity have been publicised via journal and
conference papers, and substantial reference has been made to its
work by external authors. However, the PDU has now reached a
xi
xii The Practice Development Unit
stage where it seems appropriate to examine its work in more detail,
to present a more comprehensive view of its operation, and to share
the wealth of the team’s experience with others. To this end it
seemed timely to consider the production of this book.
Our intention is to offer an understanding of the theoretical basis
of the PDU model and its application to practice, as well as insight
into the benefits and complexities of the approach. We are not seek-
ing to promote the PDU as a universal panacea, nor suggesting that
the approach described should be applied in every detail. Rather, the
focus of the book on real practical issues is intended to offer genuine
insight into the implementation and continued support of such a
unit, as well as the often severe difficulties of maintaining its work in
the face of external pressures and conflicting organisational cultures.
It is intended to offer clear pointers as to how the general principles
might be adapted to suit differing circumstances, as a powerful
means of taking practice forward.
The PDU has received a steady stream of enquiries and visits,
both from teams interested in developing their own PDU and from
individuals involved in broader developmental work. The content of
the book reflects real concerns and questions raised by such visitors
as well as the reflections of practitioners within the PDU itself. We
hope, therefore, that it will be a useful resource for a wide range of
professionals from any discipline, including clinical staff, practice
developers, researchers, educationalists, audit and quality improve-
ment practitioners, and leaderdmanagers seeking to get the best
from their teams.
