Supporting Growth and Driving Change: The GPN Mid-Career Fellowship
Investing in the development of General Practice Nurses (GPNs) is essential to strengthening Primary Care, supporting workforce sustainability, and improving patient outcomes across our communities. Experienced nurses play a vital role within general practice, not only through direct patient care, but also through leadership, service improvement, prevention work, and supporting multidisciplinary teams.
The GPN Mid-Career Fellowship Programme was developed as an exciting pilot initiative designed to support experienced General Practice Nurses to grow, lead and drive meaningful change within their practices and Primary Care Networks (PCNs).
Our second cohort commenced in July 2025 and successfully completed the programme in March 2026. Open to nurses with a minimum of two years’ experience within general practice, the fellowship provided participants with four hours of protected learning time each week. This dedicated time enabled fellows to focus on a quality improvement (QI) project alongside their clinical responsibilities, while also investing in their own professional growth and leadership development.
More than just a development programme, the fellowship created a supportive environment where nurses were encouraged to reflect, innovate, collaborate and build the confidence needed to influence change within Primary Care.
Building Confidence, Leadership and Capability
A key strength of the fellowship was the balance between structured learning and practical, real-world application.
Throughout the programme, fellows participated in a range of development sessions designed to strengthen both personal and professional capability. From the introductory sessions focused on confidence-building and project planning, through to coaching, communication skills and public speaking support, the fellowship equipped nurses with practical tools to lead improvement within their organisations.
Participants benefited from:
One-to-one coaching and facilitator support
Regular drop-in sessions and peer learning opportunities
Development programmes focused on self-awareness, resilience and team dynamics
Workshops on evaluation, communication and poster presentation skills
Protected time to focus on improvement work and leadership development
The programme also created valuable opportunities for networking and shared learning. Fellows were able to discuss challenges openly, learn from one another’s experiences and build supportive professional relationships across practices and PCNs.
Importantly, the fellowship recognised that leadership in Primary Care does not always look traditional. Many participants developed confidence not only in managing projects, but in influencing conversations, advocating for patients, engaging colleagues and driving positive cultural change within their teams.
Quality Improvement in Action
At the heart of the fellowship were quality improvement projects designed to make a tangible difference to patient care, service delivery and workforce wellbeing.
The projects undertaken across the cohort reflected the breadth of skills, innovation and leadership within General Practice Nursing today.
Improving Early Recognition of Type 1 Diabetes - Lynda McColl
One project focused on improving awareness and early recognition of undiagnosed Type 1 Diabetes in children among both clinical and non-clinical staff.
The fellow introduced targeted teaching sessions, practical demonstrations and visual prompts to strengthen confidence in recognising symptoms and escalating concerns appropriately.
The impact was significant. Staff confidence scores increased from as low as 2.6–5.5/10 before the intervention to 7.8/10 afterwards. Importantly, 80% of staff reported that they would change aspects of their practice following the training.
This work has the potential to support earlier recognition of Type 1 Diabetes, reduce delays in diagnosis and help prevent serious complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Empowering Patients in Diabetes and Kidney Care - Wendy Webb
Another fellow explored the connection between diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), introducing a more structured educational approach to support prevention and early intervention.
Using patient questionnaires and personalised conversations, the project encouraged patients to better understand their condition, engage with self-management and participate more actively in shared decision-making.
The initiative also improved staff knowledge and confidence when discussing CKD with patients, helping to strengthen preventative care and support better long-term health outcomes.
This project highlighted the importance of personalised conversations and proactive education within Primary Care, particularly for patients managing multiple long-term conditions.
Increasing Childhood Immunisation Uptake - Rachel Burrows
One fellowship project focused on improving childhood vaccination uptake and enhancing patient experience through more accessible and inclusive approaches.
The fellow introduced:
Themed vaccination clinics
Improved digital booking processes
Targeted outreach to vulnerable communities
Flexible access through drop-in sessions
The results demonstrated a positive impact on both uptake and engagement. The project achieved a 40% increase in vaccination uptake within the traveller community, while 71% of parents reported being more likely to attend future appointments.
This work highlighted how creative, patient-centred approaches can reduce barriers to access and strengthen trust within communities.
Releasing Capacity Through Pathway Redesign - Katie Smalley
Another project addressed the growing demand associated with vitamin B12 injections within general practice by Katie Smalley.
The fellow explored opportunities to safely introduce supported self-administration and appropriate oral treatment alternatives where clinically suitable. The project modelled how reducing unnecessary appointments could release significant clinical capacity while maintaining patient safety, choice and quality of care.
Alongside the operational benefits, the project also encouraged greater patient independence and flexibility in managing ongoing treatment.
Improving Wound Care and Lower Limb Health - Zoe Blackett
One fellow focused on strengthening lower limb wound care management through evidence-based interventions, improved recall systems and dedicated clinic capacity.
The project introduced:
Structured care pathways
Improved patient education
Greater use of compression therapy
More consistent follow-up processes
The initiative aimed to improve healing rates, reduce infection risk and enhance overall patient experience while supporting more proactive management of lower limb health.
This work also reinforced the importance of early intervention and continuity of care in preventing avoidable complications.
Social Media and Its Impact on Health - Megan Leahy
Another innovative project explored how social media can support health education and improve access to care within general practice.
The fellow highlighted how platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and practice websites can be used to share timely, reliable and accessible health information with patients.
Examples included:
Seasonal health advice
Long-term condition education
Service updates and appointment guidance
Awareness campaigns such as cervical screening and flu vaccination uptake
The project demonstrated how digital communication can support self-care, improve engagement and encourage patients to access preventative services earlier.
Clear and accessible messaging was also shown to reduce confusion around service access and help direct patients to the most appropriate care pathways.
Delivering Real Impact for Patients and Practices
Although each project focused on different priorities, several common themes emerged across the fellowship.
The programme supported:
Increased staff confidence and leadership capability
Improved patient engagement and experience
Earlier intervention and preventative care
Better communication within teams
More efficient use of clinical capacity
Greater innovation within practice settings
The fellowship demonstrated what can happen when experienced nurses are given protected time, structured support and the opportunity to lead improvement.
These projects were not only beneficial for patients, but also helped strengthen practice resilience, workforce morale and collaborative working across teams.
Celebrating Achievement and Shared Learning
The programme culminated in a celebratory event in March 2026, where fellows presented their projects, reflected on their learning and shared outcomes across the wider system.
The event highlighted not only the quality of the improvement work delivered, but also the personal and professional growth experienced by participants throughout the programme.
Many fellows described increased confidence in leadership, communication and influencing change, alongside a renewed sense of professional purpose and motivation.
Investing in the Future of General Practice Nursing
The GPN Mid-Career Fellowship has demonstrated the value of investing in experienced nurses, not only to support individual career development, but to strengthen Primary Care as a whole.
By embedding quality improvement, leadership and protected learning time at its core, the programme has empowered nurses to lead meaningful change within their practices and communities.
As Primary Care continues to evolve, supporting the development of experienced nursing staff remains essential. Programmes like this help build a confident, skilled and future-ready workforce equipped to meet the growing and changing needs of patients.
The fellowship has shown that when nurses are given the time, support and opportunity to develop, the impact extends far beyond the individual, benefiting teams, practices, patients and the wider healthcare system.
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