In 2012, the estimated ratio of nurses to GPs in general practice was 1 to 1.78, an increase from 2009 when there was one nurse to every 2.01 GPs.
This increase suggests that more general practice teams have identified the value of increasing the ratio of nurses to GPs on staff.
The ‘ideal’ ratio depends on the needs of each practice, which includes the practice population and health needs of patients, the structure of the practice and the role nurse/s are engaged to perform, as well as each nurse’s scope of practice.
Further information can be obtained from the 2012 General Practice Nurse National Workforce Survey.