Jane Mackay argues for a region-wide strategy for developing and funding practice nurse education

North East Thames RHA set up a steering group in 1991 with a membership representing practice nurses, GPs, educationalists and FI ISA managers. The group s remit was to investigate the availability of training and education and to provide a framework which would ensure that practice nurses had similar opportunities to those enjoyed by other community nurses. The steering group also hoped to provide information on the projected educational needs for practice nurses which would then be included in the annual regional planning mechanism for the distribution of appropriate funding.