Scotland's practice nurses have faced a rising workload during the past five years, but numbers have not grown enough to ease pressure, a survey has shown. The National Primary Care Workforce Survey 2009 found the number of practice nurses increased by 33% in the six years to 2003, but rose by a mere 6% during the following five years and four months. It said there are 2,140 nurses working for Scottish health boards and practices, and Royal College of Nursing Scotland director Theresa Fyffe said the 2004 contract should have required a "steep increase" in nurse numbers. Practice nurses "lead on delivering an increasing range of services to patients to support the achievements of GP targets through the QOF," she said. "In return for the crucial role that practice nurses now have, all GPs should ensure that they meet best employment practice.

I strongly agree that GPs should meet best employment practice and I must say that in some cases these are maintained; however, in my estimation these are few and far between. The new contract allows GPs to direct the PN to reach QOF figures while their expectations on the PN to complete this work and maintain all other patient-centred care is unrealistic. Added to these in the past 4 years have been HPV, H1N1 vaccines, other immunisation catch-up campaigns. It is quite obvious to me that the GP takes all the profit and the PN does the majority of the work. It would be far better for the population of UK in quality of care and financially if GPs and PNs were employed by the NHS and take away the excuse made in regulating PNs employment that GPs are independent employers. PNs would then have the backing of the NHS and would not have to battle on their own to achieve better working conditions and pay. After all, the GP practice is maintained out of the public purse, something I feel that they conveniently forget. Protect our PRACTICE NURSES. Primary care would be in dire straits without them