The GP Awards 2025 shortlist: Anna Parker, practice nurse, Rosmellyn Surgery

The commitment of a practice nurse has resulted in her being nominated for a national award by other members of her team. This is the latest in a series, meeting those shortlisted in the nursing category in the General Practice Awards 2025, which take place on 5 December at the Novotel London West in Hammersmith.

Anna Parker joined Rosmellyn Surgery in Penzance, Cornwall in early 2022 and quickly established herself as a dedicated and proactive member of the nursing team.

Over the past 18 months, her determination to develop professionally and support colleagues through challenge and change has proved to be an inspiration.

At the end of 2024, Ms Parker completed her prescribing qualification and stepped up during a period of staff sickness, managing minor illness cases to help relieve pressure on the GP team.

‘I’d been doing lots of training and improving on my nursing,’ she says. ‘The last part of 2024 was really progressing with a lot of things and really putting a lot into my work.’

In early 2025, Ms Parker became seriously unwell during her pregnancy and spent four months in hospital in Bristol, far from home. Despite the circumstances, she continued learning – taking the opportunity to study bronchiectasis, an area she had identified as needing improvement within the practice.

While on maternity leave, she continued to support the respiratory nurse managing complex patients

‘Our diagnosis of bronchiectasis can be a bit slow,’ she says. ‘So I did some training on that when I was in hospital, just to get a little more information and improve that.’

She also stayed closely involved in patient care. While on maternity leave, she continued to support the respiratory nurse managing complex patients, checking in regularly and offering clinical insight and background.

Colleagues describe Ms Parker as stoical, compassionate and committed

Colleagues describe Ms Parker as stoical, compassionate and committed. One noted: ‘She demonstrates all the attributes we would hope for in a nurse.’ Another called her ‘a true inspiration’.

Ms Parker says her proudest achievement is the sense of purpose and teamwork that has underpinned it all.

‘Continuing to meet patient need and work really well as a team is key,’ she says. ‘When you’re working in GP surgeries, you’re quite often isolated in a room – but Rosmellyn is really good at working together, reflecting on things, being open to each other’s ideas. That kind of makes you want to be better as a nurse.’

Looking ahead to the ceremony in December, Ms Parker says being shortlisted is an unexpected but meaningful moment. ‘I’m very happy to be nominated – it would be very nice to win,’ she admits.

‘You’re often toiling away on your own thing and with your own patients, and you’re not really thinking about winning awards when you’re a GP nurse. Or any kind of nurse, I think.

‘So yeah, I think it would be a surprise!’