Having the right number of appropriately skilled staff is a huge organisational challenge and a critical determinant of the quality and efficiency of health care.

There is a growing gap between patient needs and the skills and knowledge of the workforce that cares for them, especially regarding the non medical workforce. The Nuffield Trust report, Reshaping the workforce to deliver the care patients need, commissioned by NHS Employers, gives guidance for reshaping workforce; identifies key enablers and obstacles to change; and provides recommendations for national and local bodies about key actions to support change.