RCN responds to news that polyclinic nurses may outnumber doctors
Published: 10 September 2008
The RCN has stressed that the right number of nurses and doctors working in primary care is the key to providing an excellent primary care service and has called on the UK Government to invest in community nurses to ensure high quality care is delivered.
The RCN’s comments follow the publication of a Pulse report which stated that the Department of Health has instructed primary care trusts to staff polyclinics based on a blueprint of three GPs to nine nurses.
Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said:
“This is not about nurses instead of GPs. World class primary care is dependent upon the right number of doctors and nurses continuing to work well together to help provide the best possible services.
“This report recognises the already exceptional work nurses provide and will further expand the role of nurses throughout GP-lead health centres across the country”.
The introduction of polyclinics was recommended in Lord Darzi’s recent review of the NHS in England.
Further information
Read the story on the Pulse website.
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