From Setup to Success: Developing Nursing Placements in General Practice for Long-Term Workforce Growth
Health Education and Improvement Wales
Introduction:
To address the urgent need to grow the future General Practice Nursing (GPN) workforce, this project aimed to establish at least 30 new GPN student placements across Wales from October 2023 to October 2024. Challenges included an ageing workforce, lack of previous placement infrastructure, and poor recruitment in areas of deprivation - despite strategic drivers advocating care closer to home.
Methods:
Three regional Primary Care Practice Education Facilitators (PEFs) were appointed to deliver a stepped approach: stakeholder engagement, practice agreement, tailored training, educational audits, and student placement allocation. Strong networks were built across universities, GP practices, and the Deep End Cymru network to expand capacity, particularly in areas of need. The model embedded ongoing support and interprofessional learning.
Outcomes:
Placement capacity grew from 18 to 69 GP surgeries (a 300% increase), with another 68 practices engaged in the development process. Since January 2024, 150 students have experienced GPN placements. Of these, 76% expressed interest in pursuing a GPN career. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive: 96% reported excellent support and 98% said they learned a great deal. Students gained meaningful experience with multidisciplinary teams, and several transitioned into GPN roles upon qualification.
Learnings:
GPN placements offer rich learning aligned with professional frameworks and support student readiness for practice. The dedicated PEF model was critical in overcoming infrastructure and engagement barriers. Interprofessional learning enhanced the student experience, but challenges remain - especially around financial reimbursement, practice capacity, and resilience to staffing disruptions. These issues continue to be reviewed.
What Next?
The project will continue into 2025/26 with efforts focused on sustaining existing capacity, strengthening assessor infrastructure, and expanding placements - particularly within Deep End practices and integrated neighbourhood models.
