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WORKFORCE
Innovative mentor scheme supporting GPN retention in Devon
A ‘ unique ’ mentoring programme in Devon is helping to retain experienced and new nurses in general practice .
The Legacy Nurse Mentorship initiative was launched last year , spearheaded by Sarah Hall , a general practice nurse of more than 20 years ’ standing .
The scheme in the Devon Integrated Care Board ( ICB ) sees a ‘ legacy mentor ’ – an experienced general practice nurse – partner with a new one to provide support through advice and guidance .
It was launched amid concerns about high retirement levels , coupled with existing national workforce shortages . It aims to help support recruitment , as well as the retention of new nurses and those who are most experienced .
Speaking at last month ’ s annual Royal College of Nursing conference , Ms Hall , who is GPN strategic lead at NHS Devon , said the initiative facilitated experienced nurses to use their ‘ skills or experience to support nurses in their career ’.
‘ It ’ s providing supportive mentorship , it ’ s professional advice and guidance , it ’ s supporting education , health and wellbeing , and career progression for those who are new to the practice – but it also supports retention of our most experienced and skilled nurses ,’ she said .
SOCIAL CARE
National Care Service plan calls for ‘ broad pay parity ’ with NHS staff
Nurses in the social care sector should have pay and conditions ‘ progressively aligned ’ to those of their NHS counterparts , according to a new plan for a ‘ National Care Service ’ published by Unison and the Fabian Society thinktank .
The plan lays out a first-ever ‘ roadmap ’ for long-term reform of the social care sector , culminating in the creation of a new care service by July 2028 .
Under the proposals , social care nurses ’ pay and benefits should be ‘ progressively aligned to NHS employees with broadly similar responsibilities and skills ’.
The report also recommends service providers funded by the proposed National Care Service should be required to meet or exceed a ‘ national framework of employment ’.
‘ The overall aim would be to achieve broad parity with similar roles in the NHS , modelled on the Agenda for Change system of pay scales ,’ it says .
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said social care had ‘ been neglected for too long ’ and that reform was needed to tackle poor staff retention . Read the report : tinyurl . com / care-service .
ACCESS
‘ Missed opportunity ’: Nurses overlooked in GP recovery plan
A new recovery plan for primary care has sparked anger among the profession over concerns that it excludes nurses . NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care published the longawaited Delivery plan for recovering access to primary care in May .
However , the document has faced criticism , being branded a ‘ missed opportunity ’ to engage with general practice nurses and nursing leaders in the sector .
The 46-page plan promises to provide ‘ millions of patients ’ quicker and easier access to NHS care through investments in better technology for GP teams and a wider role for community pharmacists . However , it makes scant mention of
nurses and it appears nursing leaders were not involved in its development .
Responding to concerns that nursing bodies were not named as stakeholders in the plan , national primary care nursing lead for NHS England Louise Brady wrote on social media that she ‘ would have been very happy to support alongside senior nursing colleagues ’ – suggesting she had not been part of the consultation .
Ms Brady added : ‘ We cannot influence policy , practice and education to support our communities without [ breadth ] and depth of expertise of our primary and community nurses .’ Read the plan : tinyurl . com / access-plan .
CLINICAL
Domestic abuse exposure linked to increased levels of atopic diseases
Women who have suffered domestic abuse are at higher risk of illnesses such as asthma , allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic eczema , according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Birmingham .
Analysis of the health impacts of domestic violence and abuse ( DVA ) in the health records of nearly 14,000 women showed a 52 % increased risk of atopic disease compared with those who had not faced abuse .
The researchers hope the findings will inform public health strategies for assessing atopic disease . They said the study is the first large-scale attempt to explore the relationship between DVA and the development of multiple atopic diseases using UK data .
The researchers acknowledged that the women who were exposed to DVA were also more likely to be current smokers than those not exposed to domestic abuse . They hope to undertake further work to address this and other limitations . Further details : tinyurl . com / DVA-atopic . suitably qualified , competent , skilled and experienced staff ’ and that ‘ not all nurses had demonstrated they had completed their required training ’ in safeguarding .
A statement from the practice said the surgery was ‘ now well staffed ’ and ‘ all nurses are trained to the required safeguarding level ’.
Funding ‘ desperately ’ needed in sexual health services as demand soars Sexual health services ‘ desperately ’ need more funding to improve access to care and to prevent STIs going untreated , a leading nurse has said . New diagnoses of gonorrhoea and syphilis were at record levels in 2022 , UK Health Security Agency figures show .
Sexual health specialist nurse Jodie Crossman said rising demand and recruitment pressures meant funding was ‘ desperately ’ needed to ensure ‘ timely access to screening and care ’.
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