NHS England is considering changes to a digital badge accreditation scheme for advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) in general practice following concerns raised by the workforce, the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) has said.
Speaking today at the QNI’s annual conference, chief executive Dr Crystal Oldman said NHS England was ‘very keen’ to make changes to the rules around the badge process for those employed through the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS).
The digital badge scheme was launched by NHS England in 2022 as a way of evidencing the ‘accredited education and training’ of ANPs. It is currently voluntary for all ANPs, apart from those seeking employment under the ARRS in general practice.
As exclusively reported by Nursing in Practice, a QNI report suggested GP practices were at risk of losing ‘many’ experienced ANPs over the badge scheme.
ANPs have warned the process of obtaining a badge – by either doing an accredited Master’s programme or an ePortfolio which includes a 5,000-word essay – is causing significant stress, is ‘discriminatory’ and in some cases an ‘exit trigger’.
A QNI report last month suggested some 72 nurses had been put at a disadvantage, either in their own job or in seeking another job due to not having the digital badge.
Concerningly, the QNI’s report found that specific rules within the ARRS – which require ANPs in general practice to have the badge – meant experienced nurses in this sector were ‘significantly’ disadvantaged and that this workforce was at particular risk.
And it called for an urgent review of the digital badge requirements, funding, process and impact on the nursing workforce, especially in general practice.
Today, Dr Oldman reiterated that ANPs, particularly in general practice, have been ‘impacted in a negative way’.
She went on to thank colleagues at NHS England who she said have ‘responded and are very keen to make the suggested changes that we have identified that would make this a much more equal playing field for our nurses in general practice and our [allied health professional] AHP colleagues’.
She added: ‘Evidence and advocacy works. Gather the evidence [and] talk to the right people advocating on your behalf.’
Nursing in Practice understands that Dr Oldman met with the Centre for Advancing Practice – which runs the digital badge programme – and NHS England in response to the QNI’s report.
The QNI was told that NHS England was looking at the evidence to support changes to the ARRS around the digital badge.
Nursing in Practice has contacted NHS England for comment.
