Workforce planning in the context of service redesign, workforce migration and changing demographics

Introduction Healthcare is facing unprecedented challenges in which economic, demographic and policy changes will impact upon all aspects of workforce and service delivery both within the UK and internationally. How the rehabilitation workforce responds to the challenges will be a fundamental marker of the success of future service delivery. Content These changing imperatives require a reinterpretation of existing workforce planning. A more collaborative and patient-centred approach is now advocated within which productivity becomes a major player, with quality remaining at the heart of the agenda alongside an increasing emphasis upon prevention. This article describes how the workforce needs to realign itself with this directional change. Conclusions This article provides an overview of the current policy context shaping the health workforce agenda and suggests future strategies to assist planners in achieving an effective planning cycle within the rapidly changing and dynamic health care delivery system.