We currently have 320 PNs in the area but our membership has been at an all time low for the year 2003-4 standing currently at 68.   The aim of our group as per the Constitution is to further PN education and understanding, provide social contact for nurses working in isolation and to encourage development of the PN role.   Attendance at our meetings are variable with a core number of about 35 but we did manage 90 on one occasion.

Representation of PNs is made on several committees usually by our group committee members and includes the GGNHS PN forum which discusses local and national issues such as Patient Group Directions, Framework for Nursing, access to education and training, GMS contract, Agenda for Change, cervical screening.   The group consists of two PNs, LMC Secretary, Assistant Director of Nursing, Contractor Services Manager, Strategy and Implementation Manager, Organisational Development Manager, Screening Manager and other invited speakers depending on subject matter!   Although it sounds 'top heavy', these are the people who can help us raise our profile and move issues forward.

Other groups are the GMS workgroup with several subgroups and relevant subjects discussed including pre-chemotherapy drugs and blood testing, near patient testing, e.g. lithium monitoring and disease modifying drug monitoring.   The chronic disease steering group, cervical screening monitoring and evaluation group and uptake subgroup, Framework for Nursing, stroke and CHD Managed Clinical Networks and the immunisation group all have PN representation too.   And, of course, the link member for the SPNA!   We are a busy lot.

We send out quarterly newsletters via the 'black bag' system personally addressed to each PN in every surgery which the Primary Care Trust manage for us via their database.   This has been one of the best outcomes of the PN forum to date and perhaps attendance at meetings has been regarded as unnecessary by PNs due to the current information provided - who knows?

We are now providing sponsorship of £100 to a maximum of three PNs annually to cover study/course fees with the proviso that they will share their evaluation with us via our newsletter on completion.   We had sufficient funds to give to two charities, namely a local Autism group and the Glasgow Project which allows travel, accommodation expenses and entertainment for, e.g. children from disaster areas abroad.

Last year's sessions included talks from our local Genito-urinary counsellor forging links with primary care in sexually transmitted diseases, an interactive discussion by a highly entertaining haematologist and an update on chronic disease management and GMS contract requirements.   Our meeting in January unfortunately had to be cancelled at short notice due to the snowy forecast!

The next session starts in September and we have four meeting scheduled on:

Monday 13th September 2004
Tuesday 9th November 2004
Wednesday 2nd February 2005
Thursday 12th May 2005

Topics have yet to be finalised but we hope to 'poach' two of them from this year's SPNA conference and invite the Genetic Nurse Counsellor from Glasgow and Men's Health.   Further details to follow.

A short-life working group on PN competencies is to be set up which is intended to establish PN training needs against competencies framework and is to be led by our new Trust employed PN advisor.   We look forward to even better communication and moving forward on local and national strategies with her in the future.

Carolyn McGeoghegan
Glasgow Practice Nurse Chair and SPNA link member