Our report – Better equipped, better care

GPs and practice nurses do a really difficult job. They encounter enormous pressures and demands in the workplace. When they are well supported and receive sufficient and ongoing training, they are better equipped to provide the best care for their patients.

However, we've found that:

• 40 per cent of all GP appointments are mental health related. But less than half (46 per cent) of trainee GPs undertake a training placement in a mental health setting.
• 2 in 3 GPs say that the number of patients presenting with mental health problems has increased in the last 12 months.
• Trainee GPs are faced with a narrow choice of training placements, and limited time and resources to complete them.
• 4 in 5 GPs would like a wider choice of mental health placement options.
• 82 per cent of practice nurses feel ill-equipped to deal with aspects of mental health for which they're responsible.
• 42 per cent of practice nurses have had no mental health training at all.

It's vital that all GPs and practice nurses receive relevant, sufficient and ongoing mental health training, so they have the knowledge and confidence to provide quality mental health support.