Transforming Roles paper 6: role of the general practice nurse – 2024: equality impact assessment

Background

The purpose of the policy is to set out the role of the GPN. This has changed significantly in recent years since the introduction of the 2018 General Medical Services Contract where roles historically carried out by GPNs, such as wound care, phlebotomy and vaccinations, have been moved out of general practice.

The previous policy paper, Transforming Nursing Roles Paper 6, is now out-of-date and as such has been reviewed and refreshed for 2025. This new paper will support GPNs and their employers to better understand the role required of the GPN workforce in meeting local population health needs.

The development of the refreshed paper has involved extensive stakeholder engagement and the establishment of a specialist Oversight Group to produce the policy paper. This has included patient representation via the ALLIANCE. All work has been signed off by the Transforming Roles Steering Group, chaired by NHS Education for Scotland (NES).

The policy affects all GPNs, as well as Practice Managers and General Practitioners (GPs) as employers of GPNs.