Responding to a Department of Health and Social Care announcement that £40 million will be invested in general practice to keep patients out of hospital, an RCN spokesperson said:

“As winter fast approaches, measures to keep patients out of hospital can’t come a moment too soon. This investment will rely on the whole general practice workforce to be a success, and it’s vital that nursing is at the heart of planning and decision making in all elements of primary care.

“While this announcement will help boost short-term capacity, it needs to be the start of long-term investment in the general practice nursing workforce, many of whom are running on empty.

“This, alongside new funding to grow the number of district nurses, health visitors and other vital staff in the community, whose numbers have collapsed in recent years, is how we keep pressure off overwhelmed A&Es for good.”

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