“Our ANP Jane is an integral part of the General Practice team, dealing with both acute and chronic care from cradle to grave. She offers holistic, evidence-based care to keep chronic disease under control, keeping patients out of hospital. She runs our diabetes and sexual health programs alongside providing same day acute care appointments. There is a clear distinction between a General Practice Nurse and an Advanced Nurse Practitioner. ANPs undertake multiple years of postgraduate education and specialist training often at their own expense to allow them to work as independent clinicians. They are senior decision makers accessible to the community. ANPs provide continuity of care, which is often lacking with practices such as ours relying on trainee and locum doctors. I have worked in primary care worldwide alongside a varied multidisciplinary team. I believe that this multidisciplinary model is the future of healthcare. Modern GPs are very different to our colleagues of the past and treatment has become more complex. Each healthcare professional in the practice brings a specific skill set to support the patients’ healthcare journey. If Slaintecare is to be a success, skilled clinicians such as ANPS must work alongside a finite number of GPs to shift the focus from hospital management. Our ANP is an essential member of our practice. She has an excellent relationship with patients and colleagues alike and this is the biggest tribute to her value. I am delighted to support the Advanced Nurse Practitioner cohort and feel that they need urgent state support to grow their role in the interests of patients and practices countrywide.”  

General Practitioner Dr Mark Ruddy Arklow Co Wicklow

Super work by RANP Jane Deehan on advocating for GP ANPs at her practice.  

Happy Nurse Practitioner week to all our IAANMP members making a difference everyday to patients lives and improving access to healthcare