A pilot study of primary care workers with a disability.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Disability Studies
• Occupational Health

Background:

• The National Health Service (NHS) workforce faces challenges in retaining employees with disabilities.
• Understanding the experiences of disabled workers and identifying barriers to retention is crucial for workforce sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the workplace experiences of employees with disabilities within the NHS.
• To identify factors influencing the retention of disabled staff in healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• A postal survey was conducted with 80 practice managers to identify colleagues with disabilities.
• Semi-structured interviews were performed with 15 individuals with disabilities to gather detailed insights into their workplace experiences.

Main Results:

• Eighty practice managers identified 55 colleagues with disabilities.
• The majority of interviewed disabled employees reported positive colleague attitudes.
• However, significant workplace or systemic changes to support retention were largely absent.

Conclusions:

• Helpful colleague attitudes alone are insufficient for retaining disabled workers.
• There is a need for proactive workplace modifications and systemic support to improve the retention of disabled employees in the NHS.
• Implementing targeted interventions could enhance workforce stability and inclusivity.