The Evening Times ran an article about figures in a new report showing that women from Lanarkshire experience higher-than-average rates of stillbirth and neonatal deaths than other parts of Scotland. The region recorded the second-highest rate in Scotland with 6.42 deaths per 1,000 births. However it is worth noting that the figure of 7,096 Lanarkshire resident […]
General practice nursing event
Lanarkshire’s first general practice nursing event took place recently (March) at the University of West of Scotland in Hamilton.
The aim of the afternoon was to bring practice nurses together to network, share information, good practice and to identify areas for professional development.
Sheila Lindsay, senior nurse for practice nursing in Lanarkshire organised the afternoon with positive evaluation feedback from the participants. Sheila’s role is a new one which was developed within the primary care transformation programme and provides professional
nursing leadership to the many practice nurses working in general practice across Lanarkshire.
Jennifer Wilson, professional nurse advisor, Scottish Government, briefed the group on the new GMS 2018 contract which will mean an enhanced multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach to providing general medical services in the
community.
She said: “ General Practice Nurses are an integral part of general practice and integrated community nursing teams. A further £3 million investment provides an increased opportunity for general practice nurses to become better equipped and to work alongside GPs and other team members to meet the increasingly complex needs of patients. A newly developed career framework will support the profession’s career development, creating opportunities for improvement and making it easier for patients to access the right person at the right time.”
Maria Docherty, director of nursing, South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership, says practice nurses have a significant role to play in the successful delivery of the contract: “Practice nurses are skilled and trained healthcare professionals who perform an invaluable role within the GP practice. We need to build and develop their role and their skills as part of the MDT approach to general practice, in recognition of what they offer for improved patient care.
“Now is the ideal time to bring this group of professionals together to inform how their role can be developed and to support each other to make it happen, taking a consistent approach across Lanarkshire.”
The next general practice nursing event is planned for September this year.
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