Table 2 Semi structured interview questions

1.

What are the current duties/activities performed by the weekend allied health service?

(Map the service on the ward). Why are they performing these roles?

2.

What do you think are the advantages of having a weekend allied health service?

What sorts of patients on your ward most benefit from your current weekend allied health service and how? What makes it effective or cost effective?

3.

What are the disadvantages of the weekend allied health service? What do you think are the main threats to effectiveness or cost effectiveness?

4.

Are there particular allied health services that are most valuable at the weekend for your ward, eg OT, Physio, SW?

5.

Are there any duties/activities performed by weekend allied health staff that could be could be done earlier in the week?

6.

Are there any duties currently performed by weekend allied health staff that could be done by others who are present during the weekend (e.g. nursing, medical staff)?

7.

Are there any duties/activities performed by weekend allied health staff that could be put off until Monday?

8.

What concerns do you have about the withdrawal of the weekend allied health service?

What is the reasoning behind these concerns? Are they based on evidence, experience or something else?

9.

Do you have any suggestions about how the weekend allied health service could be improved?

10.

How easy or difficult do you think it would be to change procedures in order to make these improvements?

11.

Are there any other comments you would like to make?