The future of general practice is a hot topic at the moment, with discussions focusing on how best to staff it and whether the partnership model works in 2022. It is essential that nurses have a voice in these conversations, so I was pleased to see Heather Randle, RCN professional lead for education and primary care, addressing the Health and Social Care Select Committee recently on the topic of the future of general practice. Heather eloquently highlighted the need to put nurses at the centre of primary care.
As Heather pointed out, it is not always appropriate for GPs to be the person in charge of a patient, particularly if they have chronic diseases. As autonomous highly skilled practitioners, nurses know how to manage the care of many patients and are used to escalating or referring on when necessary. For instance, nurses already manage the majority of diabetes and asthma care.
Heather also highlighted that patient attitudes need to change. Some people have the misconception that seeing a nurse is inferior to seeing a GP, but nurses are often the best person to provide the care a patient needs. Perhaps a national campaign explaining this would help to shift those perceptions.
The need to make general practice an attractive place to work for nurses was also discussed with the Health and Social Care Select Committee. Heather shared that she didn't realise she wasn't entitled to NHS maternity pay until she went on maternity leave with her first child, as well as reminding MPs that nurses leaving the NHS to work in general practice lose sick pay and in many cases access to education and training. She suggested there should be standards for the pay and terms and conditions for everyone working in general practice. This is something that has been long called for, particularly if general practice is going to be able to recruit newly qualified nurses.
As teams in general practice evolve, with the addition of nursing associates, pharmacists, physiotherapists and many more allied health professionals, it is important to remember that nurses have excellent leadership skills and are very capable of leading teams. This should be encouraged and seen as an opportunity.
It is heartening to see practice nurses represented on the national stage in this way, with Heather interviewed alongside Beccy Baird, Senior Policy Fellow at The King's Fund and Sir Robert Francis QC, Chair of Healthwatch England. We have long been calling for a voice to promote the essential role that nurses play. Let us hope that those in power listen. What do you think? We'd love to hear from you at pn@markallengroup.com
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