Nursing course first to receive accreditation from national general practice body

A Plymouth University course designed for nurses new to working in general practices has become the first nursing programme to be accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

The nationally acclaimed Foundations of General Practice Nursing course prepares nurses to safely perform the core clinical competencies required to fulfill the role in a general practice. The University is one of a few providers of this type of education in the country.

Accreditation by the RCGP formally acknowledges the course’s impact and highlights the importance of nursing education to the general practice community.

Fiona Cook, lecturer in general practice nursing from the University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, said: “It has been an exciting journey developing the role and scope of the General Practice Nursing team in the South West. We are hopeful that national recognition through the RCGP and the support we are providing initiatives across the UK will further encourage the development of programmes across the country so that the provision of high quality, competence-focussed education becomes the norm, rather than the exception, for general practice nurses.”

The course, which is taught in Exeter, has been highlighted as a model programme nationally and played a critical role in developing capacity and capability within the South West. As a result, the general practice unit at the University has developed a national reputation for the innovation and excellence of its provision and worked with partners in other areas of the UK to support their workforce developments.

Clare Gerada, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: “The RCGP is committed to the professional development of the whole general practice team. Nurses are an important part of that, and play a vital role in providing patients with high quality care in GP surgeries across the country.

“Programmes like this, which are accredited by the RCGP, are developed with GPs specifically for healthcare professionals working in general practice and have shown that they meet the college's quality criteria.”

Several practice nurses at Topsham Surgery, Exeter, have been educated on the Plymouth University programme. David Leeder, General Practitioner at the surgery, said: “The education our nurses receive from the course at Plymouth University always enables them to adapt to the General Practice Nurse role quickly and with great autonomy so I am very pleased to hear this course has received accreditation from the RCGP.

“Recognition from the organisation which is responsible for the accreditation of general practitioners confirms the high quality and comprehensive education provided by the University. This highlights the excellent partnerships that have developed in the South West to create a general practice nursing course that provides a model of training for the rest of the UK.”

ENDS