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Nursing Associates
in General Practice
A new role called Nursing Associate was introduced in GP practices to help provide more support for patients. Nursing Associates are trained to work at a level between Healthcare Assistants and General Practice Nurses, helping to strengthen the team and improve patient care.
The NCL Training Hub, hosted by the Haringey GP Federation, is investing in the development of Nursing Associates across North Central London.
Nursing Associates support Registered Nurses in GP practices. This allows nurses to spend more time on more complex care, such as prescribing medication, managing minor illnesses, and triaging patients.
Unlike Healthcare Assistants, Nursing Associates are a regulated healthcare profession. This means they receive recognised training and must meet professional standards, helping to ensure patients receive safe, high-quality care.
People training for this role take part in the Trainee Nursing Associate Apprenticeship Programme, delivered by North London Partners in Health and Care. This programme provides the training and experience needed to develop skilled Nursing Associates who can work in GP practices, NHS trusts, and care homes across North Central London.
Results and impact
“The big change is the critical thinking behind what I do, knowing why something is happening, knowing what questions to ask. It’s about developing that clinical perspective. I can provide a totally different level of care; it’s a more rounded way of dealing with patients; more like a nurse. As an HCA I did lots of things, but I had a task-based approach which involved following protocols.” - Trainee Nursing Associate
Find out more about the role of Nursing Associate as well as the benefits and value these roles can bring to primary care and general practice.