In Primary Care the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP)role was created to lift some of the pressure of workload from GPs in their Practice and to reduce costs whilst enhancing clinical care and services. More and more doctors are retiring or reducing their hours, putting ever more pressure on Group Practices to provide adequate professional cover for their patients. 

ANPs are trained and qualified to deal with all patients over the age of 12 months to provide care to all members of society - although male ANPs are not usually trained to perform an intimate female examination so may be unable to deal with gynecological, obstetric, or some female breast conditions, although they may be able to perform a primary assessment and thus save the GP valuable time, enabling them to obtain a more detailed clinical picture.

ANPs should be V300 prescribers, so are able to provide, or change, medication to ensure your patients receive the most appropriate treatment.

ANPs are more cost effective  than using a locum doctor and medical staffing agencies, but are still able to refer, deal with pathology results, and many other routine tasks doctors have to cope with; unfortunately, one thing they cannot do, under current legislation, is provide a sick note. 

ANPs have 15 minute appointment slots, allowing more time to listen to patients, something that many GPs don't have the luxury of doing.  Patients often state  they feel have been listened to and given the time they needed  to discuss their conditions, which improves their satisfaction and experience - a real plus in today's society. 

I trained as a State Registered Nurse in the Army in 1976. After serving until 1990 with the Royal Army Medical Corps, during which I gained a great deal of experience in both Primary Care and A&E in addition to working on  and managing general wards; I have had a variety of roles, including the Prison Service, Care of the Elderly, Medical Insurance and Claims Management, NHS Direct, and Occupational Health.  Which have provided me me with a very varied and diverse skill set. I gained my ANP degree in 2006 at St. Martin's College, University of Lancaster.

Member of,and professional indemnity with, the Royal College of Nursing. I am a confident, experienced Clinician; able to make decisions, support clinical colleagues, request pathology investigations (including x rays, ultra sound scans and MRIs), and refer to hospital specialisms and other clinical agencies.  

I have been working as an ANP in Primary Care  in both GP practices and Out Of Hours service provision for 18 years. I am experienced  using System One;  I always willing to learn new skills and enhance my knowledge and competencies.