Team tactics: a study of nurse collaboration in general practice

Abstract

THIS paper examines the extent and type of collab orative work amongst community and practice nurses based in general practice in relation to health promotion. The data were drawn from a quantitative and qualitative study carried out from Autumn 1991 to Spring 1992, which investigated the prevention of coronary heart disease in general practice and the role of community nurses. This study formed part of a national survey of health promotion in general prac tice in relation to coronary heart disease, com missioned by the HEA and undertaken in collaboration with Kent University Centre of Health Services Studies. The study shows that there is mutual support and communication between prac tice nurses, health visitors and district nurses. How ever there is a strict division of labour within general practice which does not necessarily maximise the expertise and skills of the nurses concerned, and further training needs are identified. The new ar rangements for health promotion in the GP contract place emphasis on practice-based team work, to which the role of community nurses is central, but important management and training issues will need to be addressed for such team work to be successful.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Department of Health Promoting better health: the govemment's programme for improving primary health, London, HMSO, 1987

Fullard E. Fowler G. , and Muir Gray J.

Promoting prevention in pnmary care controlled tnal of a low technology, low cost approach

Bntish Medical Journal, 1987 , 294, 1080-1082

Department of Health General practice in the NHS. The 1990 Contract. London, HMSO, 1990

World Health Organization. Alma-Alta Declaration. Geneva, WHO. 1978

Department of Health Neighbourhood nursing a focus for care (the Cumberlege report) London , HMSO, 1986

Department of Health Nursing in the community (the Roy report) London, HMSO, 1990

Department of Health GP contract health promotion package: guidance on implementation London , Department of Health, 1993

Stilwell B. and Hobbs R. Clinical care Nursing in general piactice senes Oxford , Radcliffe Medical Press, 1990

Bowling A.

District health authonty policy and the extended iole of the nurse in pnmary health care

Joumal of Advanced Nursing, 1985 , 10, 443-454

10.

Gregson B. , Cartlidge A. and Bond J.

Development of a measure of professional collaboration in primary care

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 1992, 46, 48-53

11.

Nhsme Integrating pnmary and secondary health care Leeds NHS Management Executive , 1991

12.

Marks L. Promoting better health, analysis of the government's programme of pnmary health care London, Kings Fund Institute , 1988

13.

Carroll -Williams B and Allen J.

Running a well man clinic

Nursing Times, 1984, 80, 34-35

14.

Deans W and Hoskins R The Castle Milk well man clinics Reducing the nsk, In Heller, T et al (eds) A Reader Chichester , Wiley. Open University, 1987

15.

Cater C and Hawthorn P A survey of practice nurses in the UK and their extended roles, in Bowling A and Stilwell B (eds), The nurse in family practice London, Scutan Press, 1988

16.

Department of Health The Health of the Nation London, Department of Health, 1992

17.

Yin R. Case study research, design and methods New York, Sage Publications, 1989

18.

Cant S L. , Killoian A. and Calnan M. The role of the community nurse in CHD prevention based in general practice . Final report to the HEA, 1992