13/11/2025
ANP's are a wonderful asset to our team, we have been blessed for many years with Pauline Brown who has a wealth of experience, more recently we have been joined by Margaret Murray and earlier this year Emma Whitby, they are a valued part of any GP practice.
10-16 November is Advanced Nurse Practitioner week, and all week the spotlight will be on our ANP teams across the region.
34 ANPs, plus two trainees, work in key areas of acute medicine across Dumfries and Galloway.
These highly-skilled professionals provide consistent senior clinical presence across the hospital, ensuring safe, efficient, and patient-centred care, and we are constantly looking for ways to improve their skills and qualifications.
Emergency Department (ED)
Over the past decade, ED ANPs have evolved from supporting minor injuries to managing major cases and leading trauma calls. They mentor nursing staff, junior doctors, and GP trainees, while supporting consultants. Plans are underway to extend their scope to include requesting CT scans and gaining credentials through the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.
Hospital at Night (H@N)
Initially a small team supporting on-call senior house officers, H@N ANPs now serve as the first point of contact for medical and surgical wards overnight. They lead cardiac arrest teams and play a critical role in preventing patient deterioration. Beyond clinical duties, they provide guidance, decision-making support, and education for nursing staff during out-of-hours periods.
Medical Assessment Unit (MAU)
The MAU ANP role laid the foundation for today’s ANP model. ANPs now clerk around one-third of all admissions and are central to delivering Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC). We are planning to expand their skills to procedures such as lumbar punctures and paracentesis.
Surgical ANPs
This service has grown significantly in five years. Surgical ANPs clerk patients, coordinate calls, and support patient flow. With backing from the Royal College of Surgeons, we are developing pathways for ANPs to perform minor surgical procedures.
Critical Care
Advanced Critical Care Practitioners (ACCPs) have been integral for three years, responding to critical care concerns and performing invasive procedures. Soon, they will add intubation to their skill set, further strengthening the team.
Specialist Roles
• Heart Failure ANP: As they transition from nurse specialist roles, we are testing new ways for ANPs to enhance patient care.
• Stroke ANP: Since March 2023, ANPs have led stroke clinics, supported ED assessments, and reduced unnecessary admissions, aligning with Scotland’s stroke standards.
• Orthopaedics: ANPs manage lower limb clinics and support elective and emergency pathways.
• Urology: This is a new service that will result in nurse-led clinics and on-call rota integration.
• Vascular: A trainee ANP will qualify this year, and new pathways will be implemented.
• Acute Oncology: Two ANPs lead oncology care, managing the cancer helpline and facilitating timely transfers from the medical assessment unit (MAU).
Galloway Community Hospital
ANPs provide consistent cover, admitting and discharging patients to ensure continuity of care.
The photo shows six of our acute ANPs at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary: Helena Scott (MAU ANP), Rebecca Dunn (oncology ANP), Ritchie Kearney (lead ANP for acute), Susan Graham (stroke ANP), and Megan Irving and Emma Broad (surgical ANPs).
