Nurses and English primary care groups: their experiences and perceived influence on policy development.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the experiences and perceived influence of nurses serving on English primary care group boards.


BACKGROUND
The development of the nursing workforce and nursing services in primary care have been piecemeal and nurses have not always contributed to policy development. The recent establishment of primary care groups (PCGs) in the United Kingdom (UK) potentially offers nurses the opportunity to take a concerted and strategic role in developing professional roles and planning service developments.


METHODS
As part of a longitudinal study of a 15% random sample of English primary care groups, nurse board members were surveyed in the winter of 1999. One hundred and forty-four nurses were invited to return self-completion questionnaires.


RESULTS
Completed questionnaires were returned by 106 of those invited to participate (73%). Respondents reported that combining their usual work with their role in the PCG was frequently difficult. Only 26% perceived that they had been well prepared for their new role. Compared with other board members [for example, general practitioners (GPs)], nurses perceived that their own influence was limited, with only a quarter rating the influence of nurses on decision-making as great. Most of the sample were feeding back information to other primary care and community nurses working in the locality and 52% rated communication with this wider constituency as good or better. Nurse board members were enthusiastic about their role and optimistic about the positive future impact of PCGs on health.


CONCLUSIONS
PCGs are still at a relatively early stage in their development. It is still too early to assess their impact on nurses working in primary care and community settings. Board membership offers nurses a voice in local health policy development.
Dowswell
Therese
T
National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. s.heyes@man.ac.uk
Wilkin
David
D
Banks-Smith
Jennifer
J
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003657:Decision Making; D004739:England; D006286:Health Planning Councils; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011050:Policy Making; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011639:Public Opinion