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| Special edition Chief
Nursing Officer Bulletin July 2002 |
Contents
Introduction
Welcome to this special edition of the CNO bulletin, which provides a
summary of key issues from the conference PCT lead nurses - leading the
delivery. The conference was held jointly by the CNO and the National
Primary and Care Trust development team (NatPaCT) for PCT lead nurses
on 8 July at the Victoria Park Plaza Hotel, London. John Hutton, minister
for health, Sarah Mullally, chief nursing officer, Barbara Hakin, director
of the National Primary Care Trust development programme and Jean Faugier,
director of the National Nursing Leadership Centre addressed an audience
of 300 lead nurses.
The minister's speech and the chief nursing officer's presentation are
available through the CNO website at www.doh.gov.uk/cno
on the 'What's New' page.
Issues and challenges addressed during the day included:
- communicating with and engaging front-line staff
- the role of nurse leads & the Professional Executive Committee
- workforce & service development
- setting priorities
- developing relationships
- creating new partnerships and networks
- involving local people in decision making
- building new models of leadership
- professional development for lead nurses.
If you have any questions or comments from the conference or any examples
of good practice in primary care that you would like to share, please
contact Kate Billingham or Gary Hardman through the primary care trust
mailbox - MB-PCT1@DOH
New resources announced at the event:
- £250,000 for the NHS University (NHSU) to develop a first contact
programme for primary care nurses.
- an extra £100,000 through NatPaCT to meet the nursing development
needs of PCTs
- additional resources of £100,000 for nurse recruitment into primary
care
- new PCT competencies for nursing
- a practical guide for PCTs and front line staff on delivering The
NHS Plan in primary care.
New resources for new roles in primary care
Achievement of the primary care access target is a key government priority.
The nursing strategy Making a Difference states that the Government aims
"to see more nurse-led primary care services to improve accessibility
and responsiveness", while The NHS Plan sets out that "by 2004 all patients
will be able to see a primary care professional within 24 hours, and a
GP within 48".
Sarah Mullally, chief nursing officer said "There will be an expansion
in primary care services, as well as increased choice for patients. Nurses
will be taking on new roles that were previously filled by GPs, and prevention
will be strengthened, focusing on improving the health of the poorest.
Nurses have an increasingly important role in caring for dependent people
at home with complex needs. But we must not forget to get the basics of
care right as well as developing new roles."
In her message to PCT lead nurses she said, "It isn't just what you do
that matters, it is also how you work that is important - putting the
patient and community first, empowering frontline staff and working in
partnership across health and social care."
First contact services
Nurses are increasingly leading and providing first contact services in
walk-in centres - for example NHS Direct, A&E, minor injuries units and
general practice. This has been encouraged and supported by policies,
initiatives and access targets such as the emergency care review, PMS
pilots, nurse prescribing, the primary care collaborative, CNO's ten key
roles and the IT clinical assessment system.
In his speech John Hutton said "I recognise that many nurses are already
doing this work very effectively in walk-in centres, general practice
and A&E Departments. But we need to ensure they have access to training
and education when taking on this new role. "We need more nurses with
advanced and specialist clinical skills to lead and provide specialist
care and first contact services in primary care. By 'first contact' I
mean assessing, diagnosing and treating patients who present in surgeries
and walk-in centres - providing timely and effective care."
The £250,000 allocation to the NHSU will ensure that nurses have easier
access to the training and education they need to provide high quality
first contact services.
The 'First Contact' programme
This is to be a work-based programme, using a variety of methods to ensure
it is accessible and integrated with practice, enabling nurses to learn
in their practice setting. Initially the money will be used to:
- find out what PCTs and practitioners need
- map current programmes
- develop self-assessment packs for individuals and organisations to
assess existing skills and identify learning and support needs
- train clinical educators
- establish e-learning
- develop distance learning packs
It will build on the experience of nurses already delivering these services,
as well as on existing educational programmes. The programme will be developed
in partnership with PCTs, workforce development confederations and universities
and will support both clinical staff and lecturers in the development
of appropriate skills. The programme will provide a foundation for integrating
key skills and competencies for first contact work into core education
and training.
For further details please contact Vince Ion, First Contact programme
manager on 0114 282 0486 or vion@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Primary care recruitment
Sarah Mullally also announced a further £100,000 (on top of the existing
national campaigns) to support recruitment, retention and return to practice
in primary care. South Yorkshire workforce development confederation will
be leading work with key stakeholders to look at the specific challenges
and opportunities, and to establish what would be helpful and practical
at a local level.
This development will progress within the policy framework established
through the Improving Working Lives standards and will enable and encourage
PCTs to share good practice in primary care.
For further details visit the Improving Working Lives website www.doh.gov.uk/iwl
or the NHS careers website www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
Or e-mail Liz Eddy at elizabeth.eddy@doh.gsi.gov.uk
National Primary and Care Trust development team (NatPaCT)
The additional funding of £100,000 for the National Primary and Care Trust
development team (NatPaCT), part of the NHS Modernisation Agency, will
build on the progress of the Nursing Leadership Centre and the National
Primary and Care Trust development programme to meet the development needs
of nurse leaders in primary care.
NatPaCT was established following the publication of Shifting the Balance
of Power in the NHS. Shifting the Balance was clear in its intention to
put the planning, commissioning and delivery of services closer to frontline
NHS staff. The result was a recognition that both primary care trusts
(PCTs) and care trusts would have to take on significant extra responsibility.
The NatPaCT programme was set up to provide organisational development
support to PCTs. It aims to deliver:
- a co-ordinated development programme driven by PCTs
- a comprehensive PCT self-assessment tool that organisations can use
to assess competence
- an integrated whole systems package of development to each strategic
health authority area
- a robust infrastructure for all key stakeholders to influence the
shape and delivery of services Further details are available on the
NatPaCT website at www.natpact.nhs.uk
NatPaCT launch PCT competencies
During the conference Barbara Hakin, NatPaCT programme lead, launched
new organisational competencies to help PCTs understand and fulfil their
responsibilities to support nurses, midwives and health visitors. The
new competencies for nursing developed by NatPaCT are available on the
NatPaCT website at www.natpact.nhs.uk For further information please contact:
NatPaCT,
NHS Modernisation Agency,
Room 5E60, Quarry House,
Quarry Hill,
Leeds LS2 7UE. Tel: 0113 254 5937, e-mail: natpact@doh.gsi.gov.uk
PCT nurse leadership
Earlier this year, in his letter to the chairs of primary care trusts,
NHS chief executive Nigel Crisp acknowledged the key role of nurses, midwives
and health visitors in meeting PCT priorities.
Every PCT is expected to have a senior, experienced lead nurse in post
to provide clinical and professional leadership for front line nurses
and to provide input into the corporate functions of the PCT. The letter
also addresses the principles of PCT governance, membership of the executive
committee, remuneration and allowances. The document Shifting the Balance
of Power - Primary Care Trusts can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/stboppcts.htm
Practical guide for PCTs
In response to PCT organisations and their frontline staff who have asked
for further guidance on delivering The NHS Plan in primary care, a practical
guide will be published later this year. It will draw on the experience
of PCTs and staff in primary care services and be based on what they say
needs to happen. Professional organisations, PCTs and frontline staff
will be involved in the development of the guide.
Getting on against the odds
Sarah Mullally has just launched Getting On Against the Odds: How Black
& Ethnic Minority Nurses can Progress into Leadership. For more information
see monthly CNO Bulletin for July/August.
Copies of the document are available from John Lancaster on john@nursingleadership.co.uk
or from www.nursingleadership.co.uk
or by post from NHS Leadership Centre, 2nd Floor, Gateway House, Piccadilly
South, Manchester M60 7LP. Tel: 0161 237 2459.
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