ReviewBMC primary care2026
Building the future of UK primary care: expanding roles of general practice nurses and patient perspectives.
Review in BMC primary care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundGeneral practice nurses’ (GPNs) in UK primary care have undergone significant role expansion over the past decade, encompassing chronic disease management, independent prescribing, preventive care and patient education. Despite this growth, evidence on patient experiences, satisfaction, and organisational factors supporting these roles remains fragmented.
aimThis scoping review synthesises evidence on the roles and responsibilities of practice nurses in primary care, patients’ perspectives on their care and the organisational and leadership factors that support effective practice within multidisciplinary teams.
methodsFollowing the Arksey and O’Malley framework with Levac et al. enhancements and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search of major databases and grey literature sources. English-language studies published between 2010 and 2025, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods designs, were included if they focused on UK general practice nurses and patient experiences. Data were extracted and synthesised thematically to identify patterns related to nursing roles, patient perceptions, and organisational influences.
resultsGeneral practice nurses deliver a wide range of clinical services and are highly valued by patients for their accessibility, approachability, and continuity. Patient satisfaction is highest when nurses demonstrate person-centred communication, clinical competence, professional autonomy, and strong therapeutic alliances. Effective integration within primary care teams is supported by formal leadership, structured professional development, role clarity, and organisational infrastructure. Persistent barriers include variability in employment conditions and the lack of standardised leadership pathways.
conclusionsGeneral practice nurses are central to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care in the UK. Strengthening formal leadership, enhancing professional development, clarifying roles through supportive policy frameworks and addressing employment variability are essential to maximise their contributions. Investment in these areas will improve patient outcomes, workforce satisfaction and the long-term sustainability of primary care services.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.