RCN Scotland comments on general practice team information

Published: 27 November 2012

Practice nurses continue to deliver a significant proportion of healthcare within general practices, where they are delivering 30% of all practice appointments, according to figures published today by ISD Scotland.

Commenting on the figures, Theresa Fyffe, Director of RCN Scotland, said:
 
“Nurses have a growing role working alongside GPs as providers of core health services, with more highly qualified nurses regularly being the first point of contact and managing care for many patients, such as those with long term conditions, minor illnesses and injuries. The increasingly important role of nurses in allowing wider access to health services has been recognised by politicians of all parties, with the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee amending legislation to pave the way for future regulation to allow nurses to hold GP contracts.

“Permitting nurses to hold GP contracts would not only reflect the increasing and diverse services that nurses provide to patients. Nurses could hold the contracts, manage services and deliver care for patients, employing GPs to provide care for patients with more complex illnesses and conditions.

“Now is the time for the Scottish Government to start looking seriously at extending the ability to hold GP contracts to nurses, to provide better access to health services for all communities across Scotland.”

Ends

For further information or to arrange an interview, please call 0131 662 6173 or the out-of-hours press officer on 07962 801005.

Notes for Editors

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the world’s largest professional organisation and trade union for nurses. With a membership of over 400,000 members (over 38,000 in Scotland) the RCN is the voice of nursing across the UK. The RCN promotes patient and nursing interests on a wide range of issues by working closely with governments, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.