Resources

General practice nursing and primary care are at the forefront of the NHS Long Term Plan 10-year strategy for the NHS in England (NHS England, 2025). Recognition of the key role that general practice nurses (GPNs) have always had in the delivery of the shift of prevention and care at home must be highlighted and valued, as this is not a new concept for GPNs.

Here, Callum Metcalfe-O’Shea, UK professional lead for long-term conditions at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), speaks with Naomi Watt, registered nurse with primary care experience and healthcare professional engagement manager at Asthma and Lung UK, about the evolving landscape of respiratory care and the pivotal role that general practice nurses (GPNs) play in supporting patients with asthma and other lung conditions. These questions explore why respiratory care is so vital to the role of GPNs and discuss the resources available in practice.

Recognising the key features of common skin lesions, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma, and malignant or fungating wounds, is important for early diagnosis and guidance of appropriate management and treatment interventions. There is also the potential for wounds of initially benign aetiologies to evolve into a malignancy over long periods of time, and it is important to act on suspicious lesions and wounds which are failing to respond to standard treatment strategies. Timely referrals to specialities such as dermatology can be the key for preventing unnecessary deterioration, and awareness of local referral pathways and policies can support clinicians with decision-making around this process. While local wound management of malignant wounds should follow the principles of the TIMES framework for assessment, it should also include consideration of common and often distressing associated symptoms such as pain, malodour, high exudate volume and risk of bleeding.

Hyperthyroidism is a condition with several signs and symptoms which can occur with variable degrees of severity. Less common than hypothyroidism (covered in an earlier article; Perry, 2025), the problem occurs in countries around the world and is more often seen in older adults. Due to the fact that some of the symptoms can mimic other conditions, diagnosis can be challenging. This article gives an overview of the disease, looking at presentation, diagnosis, treatment and complications with the aim of improving understanding of this difficult disease among nurses and nonmedical prescribers.

This article discusses key concepts that general practice nurses (GPNs) can consider when supporting men with longterm conditions (LTCs) in primary care. It looks at relevant statistics alongside common LTCs GPNs may see in primary care, and offers practice points to help GPNs feel more confident in addressing men’s health in those with LTCs. It also explores barriers that may prevent men from accessing healthcare services. By considering these points in primary care, GPNs can better advocate for male patients and improve outcomes.

In November 2023, the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended the introduction of a universal childhood varicella (chickenpox) vaccination programme. The vaccine will be administered as part of a combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine from 2026. This article explores the rationale for introducing the chickenpox vaccine in the UK, its potential public health impact, the possible implications for uptake of the MMR vaccine, and the role of nurses in supporting implementation. It describes the evidence from other countries which demonstrates significant reductions in varicella incidence, complications, and hospitalisations following vaccination, and the influence on the JCVI’s decision of updated cost-effectiveness modelling, reduced post-pandemic immunity, and public health alignment with international practice. It further discusses potential challenges, including public perceptions of necessity, the small risk of febrile seizures with MMRV, and the risk that vaccine hesitancy will affect MMR uptake.

More and more research is showing how important the health of the gut is to physical and mental wellbeing and the number of papers published on the subject has grown exponentially; now thought to be around 75,000. The bacteria, yeast and viruses that live in our gut are called the gut microbiome and there are around 100 trillion of them. Many of these microbes are beneficial and even essential to human health, while others can be harmful. This symbiotic relationship benefits microbes and their hosts as long as the body is in a healthy state. Sometimes dysbiosis develops when the more harmful bacteria get to overwhelm the system leading to ill health (Medical News Today, 2023). By reducing factors that harm the good microbiome and increasing factors that help it to be restored to the right balance, much can be done for wellbeing. This two-part article explores why a good balance of microbiota is important and what factors encourage a healthy microbiota and what factors cause an imbalanced one. It is in two parts because it is now such a vast and popular subject; with this first part exploring why the gut microbiome is so important for health and wellbeing and what an unbalanced microbiota (otherwise known as dysbiosis) can lead to.

The presentation of a painful leg in primary and urgent care has many possible differentials. It is essential that clinicians take a structured and comprehensive approach to assessment, including history-taking and face-to-face physical examination to ensure that nothing is missed (Armstrong, 2020). This article is not intended as a substitute for practical learning in physical assessment and history-taking, but rather it serves as an aide memoire for those who are still developing these clinical skills.The possible differentials of painful legs — whether upper or lower, unilateral or bilateral — are discussed, looking at key areas such as clinical presentation, correct assessment and history-taking, red flags, relevant investigations, and an introduction to treatment options. References to resources available, e.g. national guidelines, are also provided.

If detected early, cervical cancer is one of the most effectively treated cancers. Therefore, attendance at cervical screening appointments, where the health of the cervix can be checked, is vitally important. However, there is a known health inequality in relation to the LGBTQIA+ population and attendance at cervical screening appointments. Some barriers to attendance include administrative processes, previous negative experiences with healthcare professionals, discrimination and embarrassment. This literature review was undertaken to explore the experience of LGBTQIA+ people and cervical screening from a global perspective. A total of nine papers were included and thematically analysed. The fours themes identified were discrimination, gender dysphoria, interpersonal and emotional experiences and relationships with healthcare providers. Healthcare professionals, such as general practice nurses (GPNs), should be aware of potential factors which may prohibit attendance from this population and encourage and increase engagement with the cervical screening programme. It is imperative that care provided should be person-centred, compassionate and informed to support reattendance and, importantly, engagement with the healthcare system as a whole.

Having the ability to reflect on professional practice is an essential skill of a registered nurse practising in the UK, and in England, nursing associate, and is a key tenet of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) revalidation. While demonstrating the importance of reflection, this paper encourages nurses to think beyond the defined constraints of reflection and move towards the more dynamic approach of critical reflection and concludes by introducing the concept of [nursing] praxis — a process which requires nurses to demonstrate a greater understanding of the complex nature of the political, social, economic and environmental constraints under which we live and work and act in a way to reduce their impact.