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. 2021 Jan-Feb;23(1):1-7.
doi: 10.7224/1537-2073.2019-058. Epub 2020 Jan 13.

Modeling the Multiple Sclerosis Specialist Nurse Workforce by Determination of Optimum Caseloads in the United Kingdom

Geoffrey Punshon, Jo Sopala, Guy Hannan, Megan Roberts, Karen Vernon, Annabella Pearce, Alison Leary

Modeling the Multiple Sclerosis Specialist Nurse Workforce by Determination of Optimum Caseloads in the United Kingdom

Geoffrey Punshon et al. Int J MS Care. 2021 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Background: It is estimated that there are more than 100,000 people in the United Kingdom who have multiple sclerosis (MS). Patient experience and outcome are improved by access to a specialist nursing service. The aim of this study was to perform demand modeling to understand the need for MS nursing interventions, and thus inform modeling of the future UK MS nursing workforce.

Methods: Existing national data and specific workload and service data were collected from 163 MS specialist nurses who completed a questionnaire on activity and complexity of work both done and left undone.

Results: Data were received from across all of the United Kingdom. Twenty-nine percent of respondents were specialist nurses in the field for 3 years or less. Unpaid overtime was regularly performed by 83.4% of respondents. The MS specialist nurse was part of all areas of the patient journey. Areas of work left undone were psychological interventions, physical assessments, social interventions/benefits, and recommending or prescribing medications.

Conclusions: The current recommended caseload of 358 people with MS per full-time equivalent seems to be too high, with a considerable amount of work left undone, particularly psychosocial care. Factors such as travel time, complexity of caseload, changing drug therapies, and societal issues such as the benefits system contributed to driving demand/workload.

Keywords: Caseload; Modeling; Multiple sclerosis (MS); Workforce.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial Disclosures: Drs Hannan and Roberts are employed by the Multiple Sclerosis Trust. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Most common interventions at each treatment pathway stage
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Most common areas of intervention left undone at each treatment pathway stage
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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