A Day of Learning, Connection and Inspiration: Our 4th General Practice Nurse Conference
Our 4th General Practice Nurse Conference was nothing short of energising, a day filled with learning, connection and shared purpose across our Primary Care nursing community.
Hosted at the beautiful Eastwood Hall, the setting once again provided the perfect backdrop for reflection, networking and professional development. With refreshments flowing and conversations buzzing throughout the day, the atmosphere was warm, welcoming and full of positive energy.
With 92 delegates joining us, it was fantastic to see so many familiar faces reconnect, alongside new connections being made. The sense of community was clear, this was not just a conference, but a space where General Practice Nurses could come together, share experiences and feel supported.
Bringing Expertise Together
The day was made possible by the generosity and expertise of our speakers, alongside the presence of pharmaceutical partners, local charities and services who joined us to showcase resources that support patient care and wellbeing.
From clinical updates to leadership and wellbeing, the conference offered a well-rounded programme designed to support both professional practice and personal development.
Advancing Wound Care Practice
A key highlight of the day was the session on wound care, delivered by Leah Hall, Sarah Peake and Annabel, who shared important updates from the National Wound Care Strategy.
The focus was on simplifying care pathways and improving patient outcomes through:
Holistic assessment leading to clearer, more streamlined care
Early use of light compression to support healing
A standardised approach to wound hygiene and product use
Increased awareness of red flags and when to escalate
Clear signposting for both staff and patients
The session reinforced how early intervention in lower limb wound care can significantly reduce hospital admissions, prevent amputations and empower patients in managing their condition.
Further insight was shared by Sarah Anstiss and Sarah Pankhurst, who explored the importance of accurate wound assessment, understanding underlying causes, and avoiding common misconceptions in healing. Practical tools such as TIMERS were highlighted to support consistent and effective assessment.
Genomics in Everyday Practice
Anita Murphy introduced the growing role of genomics in Primary Care, offering valuable insight into how genetics is shaping prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Key takeaways included:
Around 1 in 17 people in the UK live with a rare disease
5–10% of cancers are linked to genetic variants
Genetics can influence how patients respond to medication
The importance of taking a three-generation family history was emphasised as a simple but powerful tool in identifying at-risk patients early.
A particularly impactful example was shared around MODY (Monogenic Diabetes), where accurate diagnosis can significantly change treatment pathways — in some cases allowing patients to stop insulin altogether.
Understanding Clinical Risk and Safety
Ellen Nicholson provided a clear and reassuring overview of the role of NHS Resolution and the Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice.
The session highlighted the scale of activity across the NHS while reinforcing the overall safety of General Practice. Key themes identified in claims included:
Delayed or missed diagnoses
Medication errors
Delays in referrals
Communication challenges between services
Importantly, the session reassured attendees that systems are in place to support learning and improvement, rather than blame, helping practices strengthen patient safety.
COPD and Cardiopulmonary Risk
Raza Yarkhan delivered an insightful session linking COPD with cardiovascular risk, highlighting the importance of looking beyond respiratory symptoms.
One of the most striking messages was that patients with COPD are significantly more likely to die from cardiovascular causes than respiratory disease.
The session introduced practical tools such as the Cardiopulmonary Risk Matrix, supporting clinicians to take a more structured and holistic approach to patient assessment.
Preparing for CQC with Confidence
Stu Hague shared practical, real-world guidance on preparing for CQC inspections, helping practices feel more confident and prepared.
The session covered:
What to expect from inspections
Key documentation and processes
Focus areas including IPC, safeguarding, emergency medicines and patient care
This was a particularly valuable session, offering clarity and reassurance while highlighting simple steps practices can take to stay prepared.
Leadership, Reflection and Wellbeing
The day closed with a powerful and reflective session led by Lucy Cassidy, focusing on leadership, wellbeing and intention-led goal setting.
Using the PERMA model, attendees were encouraged to reflect on:
Positive experiences
Meaning and purpose
Relationships and connection
Personal and professional aspirations
This session created space to pause, reflect and look ahead — something often missed in busy clinical roles.
A Truly Positive Experience
The feedback from the day was overwhelmingly positive. The combination of high-quality learning, meaningful conversations and a supportive environment made the conference both impactful and enjoyable.
What stood out most was the energy in the room, a shared commitment to learning, improving and supporting one another.
Feedback
Thank you for organising and appreciate the time you have put in to arrange such an event
Thank you for a good informative day, each topic was presented well, presented in a timely manner and well-spaced out.
Thank you we took a lot back to further improve our care
What a fantastic end to the session!!!
Looking Ahead
We are already in the early stages of planning our 5th General Practice Nurse Conference, and we’re excited to build on the success of this year’s event.
We hope to welcome even more of you next time, continuing to create spaces where learning, connection and inspiration come together.
Explore Our Upcoming Events
We continue to deliver a range of CPD events and training opportunities throughout the year, with new sessions regularly being added to support your development.
Alongside this, we are actively shaping our upcoming training programme, ensuring it remains aligned with the evolving needs of our Primary Care workforce.
✨ Keep an eye out for what’s coming next, we have plenty in the pipeline!
Got a training need? Chat with us about your development options
Nursing and Advanced Practice development opportunities
In case you missed visiting our stall on the day, here are several development opportunities you can access through us:
Request money each financial year to support the cost of your training and continuing professional development (CPD).
Earn while you learn in fully funded clinical or non-clinical courses ranging from Levels 2-6 (plus Level 7 Advanced Practice).
Register for fully funded Levels 5-7 and spirometry courses, including long-term condition management, diabetes and more.
Guarantee students receive high-quality learning, support and supervision.
Shape the future of nursing by supporting colleagues and improving quality of care.
Gain a Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate and establish baseline GPN competence.
Move into a more senior leadership role, gain autonomy, advanced clinical skills and help shape patient care.
Get X-ray independence for chest, upper and lower limbs, when referring to NUH.
Build confidence in patient care through clinical decision support tools based on high-quality knowledge and evidence.
Take part to understand the gap between your (or your team’s) current and desired level of knowledge, skills and abilities.
Subscribe to receive the latest Notts Primary Care development resources, training and funding opportunities.
Download your pocket career companion for a CPD calendar of events, resources and information tailored to Primary Care.
Join ‘Developing & Supporting Notts Primary Care’, with tailored opportunities and peer support for nursing and AP staff.
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