Growing the future GP nursing workforce with Deep End Cymru

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) works with partners to grow and support student nurse placements in GP surgeries across Wales. This is an important project which not only provides students with hands on experience to enhance their skills and understanding of primary care, but it helps promote careers in primary care too.

As part of this work, HEIW is proud to partner with Deep End Cymru and The Royal College of General Practitioners. Together, they are helping students experience placements in areas where recruiting primary care staff can be more challenging – but also hugely rewarding.

Deep End Cymru brings together 100 GP practices that care for the highest proportion of patients living in the most deprived communities. The network provides mutual support, shares challenges, and works to improve health outcomes for those who need it most.

Recently, two of HEIW’s Primary Care Practice Education Facilitators (PEFs) brought student nurses on placement in Deep End practices to special study days which were focused on health equity and sustainability.

The sessions made a real impact. Student Nurse Jade O’Callaghan (University of South Wales) reflected:

“I had previously viewed care interventions mainly in terms of direct patient interactions. The study day deepened my understanding of the diverse roles of different professionals in tackling health inequalities. Each speaker brought a unique perspective on improving healthcare access and outcomes, whether through public health initiatives, direct clinical care, research or addressing environmental factors like green spaces. I now recognise the importance of a collaborative approach, where professionals from nursing, medicine, public health, research and environmental health work together to provide holistic care and address the multifaceted nature of health inequalities.”

Hearing reflections like Jade’s shows just how valuable these placements are. By working alongside Deep End Cymru, HEIW hopes to inspire the General Practice Nurses of the future to develop their careers in these vital, challenging, and deeply rewarding communities.

Learn more about student nurse placements in General Practice.