Ten point plan to deliver General Practice Nursing workforce for the future

A ten point plan has been launched by England’s Chief Nursing Officer 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.

The ten point action plan for General Practice Nursing (GPN) brings together key actions such as developing confidence, capability and capacity 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. It will help target and prioritise where improvements are needed most and it sets out key milestones which will allow progress to be measured across GPN for the first time.

The action plan sets out the work needed to deliver more convenient access to care, more personalised care and a stronger focus on prevention and population health driving better outcomes and experience for patients.

It comes as a growing and ageing population and multiple complex health conditions leads to increased pressure on the general practice workforce.

Actions include measures to: increase uptake and promote nursing in general practice; give support to existing GPNs; and encourage GPNs to return to practice.

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.”

Arvind Madan, GP and NHS England Director of Primary Care, said: “General Practice Nursing teams are a vital component of the general practice workforce. They provide care and treatment across the life course and increasingly work in partnership with GPs to manage overall demand in practices and treat patients with complex conditions. This support plan will go a significant way in supporting general practice, helping deliver the care that matters most to patients.”