The ‘General Practice Nursing – Leadership for Quality’ (GPNLQ) programme was developed by Judi Thorley and Sally Rogers (both chief nurses and directors of quality and safeguarding at NHS South Cheshire and NHS Vale Royal clinical commissioning groups [CCGs] and NHS Eastern Cheshire CCG respectively), after local discussions within their CCGs around the need for further support and learning opportunities for general practice nurses (GPNs).

They felt that GPNs were unintentionally professionally isolated, and had to work in a climate that did not support personal development, with some GPNs not being released for clinical training, let alone training for personal development in an area as ‘non-clinical’ as leadership.

Judi and Sally invested a significant amount of their own time in scoping out the programme, planning and, indeed, delivering the training. They also networked assiduously and gained the support of key individuals promoting the role of GPNs on the national stage.