In addition, 30 per cent have been asked to carry out QOF-related work for which they had no formal training. A significant minority — 10 per cent — of nurses employed in practices said they would carry out QOF work allocated by their employer even if they had not been properly trained.

Senior nurses said the findings were 'appalling' and warned that staff working beyond their competence could be struck off.

Nurses responding to the survey reported being asked to carry out COPD, asthma, depression, mental health or other reviews without training. However, some said their practice had arranged training when they voiced concerns. But others reported that they had been refused time off for training and had been forced to do it in their own time.

RCN primary care adviser Lynn Young said: 'It's a shoddy attitude in terms of patient care.'

The survey also found that 54 per cent of nurses said their practice had not reinvested QOF profits in improving services. Nurses said practices must invest to train them for work that has helped GP pro- fits grow 30 per cent in three years.

Meanwhile, only 30 per cent of nurses working in practices receive a bonus, the survey found, and most of those who do say it is inadequate.

RCN Nurse Practitioner Association chair Jenny Aston said the findings were 'appalling', and called for GPs to invest in training.

A selection of comments from nurses

Independent Nurse QOF survey

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