Prof Bonnie Sibbald says changing patients' first point of contact away from GPs would free up doctors to tackle more complex health problems.
The Manchester University researcher claims nurses can deliver as high quality care as GPs in almost all areas of health, making them the `gatekeepers' that could make the NHS more efficient.
The primary-care expert says that now the law has changed to allow experienced nurses to prescribe medicines, they are able to manage long-term conditions, diagnose minor illnesses and help prevent future ill health.
Prof Sibbald, of the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, said: "GPs have already yielded considerable ground to nurses in the interests of improving the quality and efficiency of primary care. It is time this trend moved to its logical conclusion, acknowledging nurses to be the true front line providers of primary care.
"Nurses are well able to undertake the bulk of work in general practice, including preventive health care, the management of long-term conditions and first contact care for minor illness.
"General practitioners' role should evolve to become that of a consultant in primary care receiving referrals from nurses."
But GP Dr Rhona Knight, who has first-hand experience in a nurse-led practice, says the change would restrict patient choice and undermine the importance of nurses' `unique contribution'.
She accepts patients report a high level of satisfaction with nurse consultations but says there is evidence people prefer to consult a GP if they think their symptoms are serious.
Dr Knight said GPs' training takes 10 years and they are hugely experienced in dealing with undiagnosed illness.
In contrast, she says, advanced nurse training is less developed and narrower than that of GPs.
She says nurses would need increased training and a similar curriculum to GPs to be able to take the lead in tackling all illnesses.
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Good idea. Lots of GP work is quite routine and does not need a £110,000 person to do it on taxpayers money. GPs should only deal with the difficult stuff for that type of cash.
Police now have PCSOs and teachers have classroom assitants and cover supervisors. These people do routine work for less cash than the fully qualified people. It's a good idea so it should be applied to the medical profession too.
I'm not convinced, apart from the fact that additional training for nurses is required and therefore a rise in salary would be required anyway. Plus I wouldn't be very happy if I had to make two appointments instead of one because the nurse was unable to deal with my issue. Getting time off work is difficult enough as it is.
In theory it seems a good idea but only if you know whether your issue can be dealt with by a nurse alone.
My local GP is shocking. I've come close to reporting her on more than one occasion for the extremely sloppy work she does, once she put our unborn child at risk because of her lack of knowledge and interest in my wife. Luckily the midwife spotted her incompetence and saved the day, recommending we reported her too.
As a result of this I deliberately do NOT go to our local GP and instead opt to visit the local walk in centre instead, which is staffed by nurses. I get an excellent service every time, there's no requirement for an appointment and I always leave satisfied.
Let nurses do the job, they may need a little extra training in places but I often find that a nurse has better people skills than your average doctor.
Why not? We let underqualified people run the country......
Nurses are not qualified to the same level so there is a higher risk of failed diagnosis. The fact that there are so many poor GPs shouldn't allow us to think we can replace the with cheaper alternatives. Teaching assistants supplement teachers but you wouldn't let them teach your child.
I don't care who treats me when I am sick as long as they know what they are doing. For the record I think Doctors are like footballers: overpaid. Nurses are a different subject.
This sort of situation has existed for years in this country anyway - it is nothing new.
I am a nurse and I work in primary care, I see patients every day with minor illnesses realting to a pecific part of medicine, it is my job to screen the patient and then treat them as appropriate, if the patient is more complex they are then asked to wait to see a doctor. This system works really well, it means less waiting time for the patients with minor illnesses and frees up the doctor for the more serious cases. It is called Triage - and is present in the vast majority of Primary Care walk in centres and Accident and Emergency units accross the country.
For those who are against the idea (mostly Dr's) nurses are trained to a very high standard nowadays and continued training is essential throughout our careers, we would not be allowed to do something we are not qualified for. Nursing is no longer about just cleaning bedpans and mopping brows.