The Dept Health (England) National Practitioner Programme October 2006

Information received 6th October 2006:  From:

Professional Advisors, Royal College of Nursing

Re: Dept. of Health (England) National Practitioner Programme.

PLEASE CAREFULLY REVIEW THE FOLLOWING:

The Dept Health (England) National Practitioner Programme will no longer be funded centrally and therefore projects due to end will do so, with no extensions.  They were due to end September 2006, with a few having the later date of March 2007.

The NPP included the following “new role” developments, listed below with the approximate numbers of practitioners involved, and planned finish date:

  • Surgical care practitioner
    50 qualified, 4 still training, over 32 pilot sites – due to finish Sept 2006
  • Medical care practitioner
    14 trainees over 12 NHS pilot sites – due to finish March 2007
  • Anaesthetic practitioner
    39 trainees due to complete over 25 NHS pilot sites – due to finish March 2007
  • Critical care practitioner
    7 completed and 5 still training over 7 pilot sites – due to finish Sept 06
  • Endoscopy practitioner
    9 trainees over 9 NHS pilot sites – due to finish March 2007
  • Perioperative specialist practitioner
    25 completed and 4 still training over 12 NHS pilot sites – due to finish March 2007
  • Emergency care Practitioner
    Included in the original programme but no details of numbers provided in July update

Whilst individual SHA’s may want to take up some aspect of these developments, the AAPE suspects that the current financial climate does not point to wide implementation.  This reveals two areas of main concern:

  • Failure to implement these initiatives may compromise nurses who have embarked on, and not yet completed, such programmes. 
  • The status of nurses who have completed such programmes.

The AAPE supports the RCN concern that the nurses in this position are supported at this time. 

The AAPE view is that the NMC proposed Advanced Nurse Practitioner standard is flexible enough to support nurses developing or working in these roles, and therefore this situation should not inhibit their development in their field of practice.  The proposed Advanced Nurse Practitioner standard can provide a framework in which their advanced practice can be regulated and supported.   The AAPE view the NMC proposals for APEL to gain access onto the ANP register would apply to these practitioners if they choose to pursue that option.

The AAPE Executive request that:

  • Member HEIs to use their local networks to support nurses in this situation, and to discuss AP(E)L opportunities within their advanced practice programmes.  
  • Member HEIs report back to the AAPE Chair on any local initiatives implemented to support these nurses so that we may share good practice across the UK.