New network helps practice nurses connect

A network to promote the role of nurses in primary care and help them connect with other healthcare professionals, patients and carers, has been launched by NHS Alliance.

The alliance, which works to bring together healthcare workers and providers in primary care, says the General Practice Nurse network will help practice nurses to connect with each other, through face-to-face and online meetings, and promote their role.

It will be led by Queen’s Nurse and co-vice chair of NHS Alliance Heather Henry, and Louise Brady, the alliance’s practice nurse special adviser. 

Ms Henry said it had become clear in Twitter chats and meetings that there was an ‘overwhelming yearning for an active practice nurse network in England’. She said the network will contribute to developing new models of community care, as outlined in NHS England’s Five Year Forward View. 

‘It will showcase the very best of practice nursing and bring the importance of what we do to the fore,’ she said.

Ms Brady added that the network is needed to influence the way in which Lord Willis’ recent recommendations on nursing education are developed, and to discuss how revalidation will affect practice nurses.

Nurses interested in joining the network need to complete a brief survey here. 

They should also email their name, role, employer name, contact number and Twitter handle (if they have one) to gpn@nhsalliance.org