The role of the practice nurse in primary care mental health: Challenges and opportunities

Recent national policy imperatives such as the National Service Framework for Mental Health reflect the increasingly important role that primary care has in the provision of mental health care. For Primary Care to meet the standards laid out in this document, there needs to be some careful consideration around the responsibilities of each person in the primary care team. This paper reviews the current role of practice nurses in primary care mental health, and considers the evidence for extending that role. The importance of putting in place structures and support to develop the role of the practice nurse in primary care mental health is also discussed.