England’s chief nursing officer has launched a 10 point action plan to recognise and develop the roles that general practice nurses have which transform care and can help deliver the plan to make the NHS fit for the future.
Developing confidence, capability and capacity – the ten point action plan for General Practice Nursing brings together key actions which aim to meet general practice workforce challenges by attracting new recruits, supporting existing GPNs and encouraging return to practice.
The plan is backed by a £15 million investment and will help target and prioritise where improvements are needed most. It sets out key milestones which will allow progress to be measured across General Practice Nursing for the first time.
A growing and ageing population with multiple complex health conditions has led to increased pressure on the general practice workforce.
The action plan sets out the work needed to deliver more convenient access to care, more personalised care in the community and a stronger focus on prevention and population health driving better outcomes and experience for patients.
Actions include measures to:
Increase uptake and promote nursing in general practice – by raising the profile of nursing in General Practice through the ‘Image of Nursing’ programme, offering clinical placements for undergraduates and supporting additional routes into general practice nursing.
Support for existing GPNs – all nurses new to general practice will have access to an induction programme, training and mentoring and an expansion in leadership and career opportunities.
Encouraging GPNs to return to practice – The national return to practice programme will now include GPNs. Regional GPN Boards will provide a platform to share best practice.
Professor Jane Cummings, chief nursing officer for England, said: “As the NHS transforms the way that we deliver care, treating more patients in the community, the importance of our general practice workforce will only increase.
“Nurses working in general practice may not have always received the recognition they deserve in the past but they are central to our plan to improve care for patients and ensure the NHS is fit for the future.
“That is why I am determined to ensure that there is a proper career development programme for those who choose this vital path and make it an attractive first choice for newly-qualified nurses as well as helping experienced staff take advantage of the flexibility it offers to re-enter the workforce.”
Wendy Preston, Royal College of Nursing, Head of Nursing Practice, said: “It’s time to raise the profile of primary care. This framework for action recognises the tremendous contribution and challenges faced by general practice nurses and their teams, and highlights their pivotal role in delivering care closer to home.
“With large numbers of the workforce set to retire in the next few years, we must not delay making general practice an attractive career for nurses.
“General practice nurses are well placed and indeed deliver high quality services, meeting the needs of their practice populations every day. We need to prioritise general practice and make it the ‘place to be.”
