Complexity science: Coping with complexity: educating for capability

摘要

Recent high profile scandals in the United Kingdom have highlighted the changing values by which the National Health Service is judged. The public expects, and the government has promised to deliver, a health service that is ever safer, constantly up to date, and focused on patients' changing needs. Successful health services in the 21st century must aim not merely for change, improvement, and response, but for changeability, improvability, and responsiveness. Educators are therefore challenged to enable not just competence, but also capability (box). Capability ensures that the delivery of health care keeps up with its ever changing context Education providers must offer an environment and process that enables individuals to develop sustainable abilities appropriate for a continuously evolving organisation. Recent announcements in the United Kingdom of a "university for the NHS," a "national leadership programme," and "workforce confederations" raise the question of what kind of education and training will help the NHS to deliver its goals.