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Unit Two
Employment of general practice nurses

Key Messages

Once you have read this Unit, you should have an understanding of:

  • the important role of general practice nurses (GPNs) within primary care
  • the need for education and training of a GPN
  • how to ensure good employment practice is in place for GPNs.

The GPN role is essential in order for practices to achieve the improvements outlined in the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) of the new General Medical Services (nGMS) contract,1 and in the Standards for Better Health paper.2 Many GPNs are now taking on more advanced clinical skills and increasing their role in the management of long-term conditions. These nurses will therefore need to shift away from undertaking more basic tasks, and consideration should be given to increasing the relevant use of skill mix within general practice. Some of the more basic tasks, for example, could be carried out by health care assistants (HCAs) or more junior level, qualified nursing staff within practices, where possible. See www.wipp.nhs.uk (Facilitating the Employment, Training, Development and Integration of Health Care Assistants) for more details.

Most GPNs are directly employed by GPs. However, their terms and conditions of employment have not always been as favourable as those for PCT-employed community nurses, who are provided with a robust human resources (HR) service.

Since GPNs are amongst the practice's most-valuable assets, they need to be treated as such - due consideration should therefore be given to all aspects of their employment.

This Unit considers how to ensure good employment practice is in place for GPNs. Retention of staff is dependent on a variety of factors, and since professional development is one of the most important, it must be appropriately resourced. Providing support for professional development to GPNs will have a positive impact on their recruitment and retention, in addition to attracting candidates of the highest calibre.

Staff retention has both a tangible and an intangible financial impact on the practice. As well as saving the practice the cost of advertising the job vacancy and then training a new member of staff, there is also the impact on team dynamics to consider, and the process of re-forming an effective, functioning practice.

Practice-based commissioning will provide opportunities for all health care professionals to expand their knowledge and expertise. General practices that have developed good employment practices will be better placed to recruit and retain high-calibre staff, and subsequently deliver a greater range and quality of services.

Example of HR in practice

'At the Limes Medical Centre, we consider HR to be a very important area, in terms of fairness to employees, good working practices and also to ensure that legally we execute policy correctly. As this is the case, we subscribe to an external company that is able to support us with employment issues. We employ between 45 and 50 employees, and are therefore exposed to many queries regarding maternity leave, parental leave, contract issues, disciplinary incidences, and so on. Peninsula, like many personnel organisations, help with the initial set-up of policies, procedures and files. They then offer 24-hour telephone support for any issues, no matter how large or small. The help we have had from Peninsula has been invaluable and they have supported us through a number of difficult staffing issues, guiding us at each step of the way.'

Debbie Thornton, Executive Director, The Limes Medical Centre, Epping Forest PCT (contact Debbie at: debbie.thornton@gp-f81043.nhs.uk for more information).

References

  1. Department of Health. Investing in General Practice: The New General Medical Services Contract. London: Department of Health; 2003. Available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/07/19/67/04071967.pdf.
  2. Department of Health. Healthcare Commission. Standards for Better Health. London: Department of Health; 2006 Available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/29/91/04132991.pdf.
 

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This document is intended as a guide only.
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