Megan Ford

1 week ago | nursinginpractice.com | Megan Ford

GP practices in Wales will be asked by the Welsh Government to confirm that any agreed pay uplift has been passed on to general practice nurses (GPNs). It comes as the Welsh Government has accepted a 4% pay uplift for GPs for 2025/26, as per the recommendations of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration. The Welsh Government is expected to enter negotiations for the 2025/26 GP contact over the summer.

1 week ago | nursinginpractice.com | Megan Ford

The government has been criticised for its lack of ‘clear’ messaging around a pay rise for general practice nurses (GPNs) for 2025/26. RCN England director Patricia Marquis also stressed that ‘guarantees’ must be put in place to ensure any uplift to the pay element of the GP contract will translate into a pay rise for general practice nursing staff this year.

1 week ago | nursinginpractice.com | Megan Ford

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has set out new definitions for nursing support worker roles, separating them into two levels in a bid to offer ‘greater clarity’. This comes as the RCN recognised instances where staff have been expected to work ‘beyond their defined roles’ or ‘outside their scope of practice’. The two levels set out by the RCN are: Supportive level – includes health care assistants, health care support workers and equivalent roles.

1 week ago | nursinginpractice.com | Megan Ford

The influenza vaccine is estimated by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to have prevented around 96,000 to 120,000 people from being hospitalised in England last winter. However, the UKHSA’s annual figures show contrasting vaccine uptake rates for 2024-25 across eligible groups, including what have been described as ‘worryingly low uptakes’ within some vulnerable groups. Flu vaccine uptake in those aged 65 and over was 74.9% – just short of the World Health Organization 75% target.

1 week ago | nursinginpractice.com | Megan Ford

The government’s decision to remove funding for Level 7 apprenticeships for people aged 22 and older undermines its own ambition to shift care from hospitals to the community, nursing leaders have warned. The Department for Education announced the move, due to be implemented in January 2026, as part of a shake-up that will see apprentice levy funding ‘rebalanced towards training at lower levels, where it can have the greatest impact’.