Concerns about future of practice nursing
Published: 12 November 2012
Research carried out by the Royal College of Nursing reveals 98 per cent of all nurses working in GP surgeries across the East of England are over the age of 40.
The RCN Eastern survey of practice nurses across eastern England took place in August and September this year*. The survey shows that:
• Only 2 per cent of practice nurses are under the age of 40
• 98 per cent are over the age of 40
• 42 per cent of practice nurses are aged between 40 and 49
• 48 per cent are aged 50-59
• Eight per cent of them are aged 60-69
• Three quarters (75%) of practice nurses work part-time
• 98 per cent of practice nurses are female
• Only 24 per cent of practice nurses are trained to degree level
RCN Eastern primary care adviser Kellie Norris said: “We are very concerned about the future of primary care nursing as only 2 per cent of practice nurses are under the age of 40 and nearly half are nearing retirement age.
“Clinical commissioners need to seriously consider the future of practice nursing as there is a real issue with both the age of the current workforce and also the level of training that practice nurses have.
“The case load for practice nurses is not only growing in size but also in complexity and if care is to be provided closer to home then these issues will need to be addressed”.
The RCN Eastern survey also highlighted positives for practice nurses working in GP surgeries.
• More than two thirds (68%) of practice nurses said they were able to deliver the level of care they would wish
• Two thirds of practice nurses (66%) said they get time for continuing professional development
• Nearly nine out of ten (87%) nurses said they have an annual appraisal – this is significantly higher than nurses in secondary care.
From a total sample of 582, responses were received from 90 practice nurses. This represents a 15% response rate. The survey was undertaken between 7 July 2012 and 21 September 2012.
RCN Director for the Eastern region, Karen Webb, said: “At the very heart of the health reforms and the NHS plans to save £20 billion by 2015 is the shift of patient care from hospitals and into primary care. Our research shows, however, that will be very difficult to achieve when practice nurses are struggling with a growing workload and are getting closer to retirement age.
The fact that only 2 per cent of practice nurses are under the age of 40 is frightening. Unless steps are taken to recruit new practice nurses and address this demographic issue, primary care will really struggle to provide care.”
The RCN represents more than 34,000 nurses across the Eastern region; covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.
The RCN’s Frontline First campaign closely monitors the effects of measures being taken across the NHS to help meet the efficiency savings required and will identify trends that directly impact on the quality of care being delivered. Frontline First data shows the NHS workforce has decreased by 20,790 (fulltime equivalents), including 6,147 nurses, since May 2010.