General practice nurses Resources

Whenever scientists try and imagine what the future will look like, they invariably get a little carried away. If past predictions were anything to go by, by this point in the 21st century
we should all be whizzing about in driverless cars, feasting on laboratory grown meat and living to improbable ages, our life expectancy artificially extended by stem-cell implants.

The national influenza vaccination programme of the United Kingdom is highly successful, changeable and progressive and can feel relentless in its delivery. When the national flu immunisation programme plan for 2024 to 2025 (as known as ‘the annual letter’) was published on 12th March 2024, initially it seemed that this year would have very few changes to the programme, when compared to those of the last few years (UK Health Security Agency [UKHSA], 2024). However, since then there have been two versions of a statement of amendment, the second due to loss of a valuable vaccine type (UKHSA, 2024), and a pertinent letter from NHS England concerning the start dates for the programme (NHS England, 2024). These changes should not be a surprise to any immuniser, especially those who have been involved in the flu vaccination programmes in previous years. Changes often happen in the lead up to, and even after, the start of the
programme. Our national immunisation programmes (NIPs) are never static for long. They are changeable due to such things as changing epidemiology, differing vaccine types or supply, new evidence, national advice or recommendations being implemented and shared with the field regularly.

The population is ageing and so we are seeing an increase in the prevalence and incidence of age-related conditions, such as frailty and dementia. These two conditions can often go ‘hand in hand’, making it important to ensure appropriate recognition, assessment and then management of each when experienced together. This paper uses a case study approach to illustrate and discuss the issues.

An improved profile for GPNs with appropriate redistribution of resources to support them moving forward.

The NHS is now three years into the most radical set of reforms since it was established in 1948. We have seen changes to commissioning and provision, and following the publication of the Five Year Forward View (NHS England, 2014) will continue to see changes to service delivery at every level.