New core standards for Assistant Practitioners are published today by Skills for Health, the Sector Skills Council for healthcare.
The standards were developed in response to requests from employers and commissioners concerned at variation in the responsibilities, education and training of staff employed in the role.

France is the latest European country to have created an independent Order for nursing.
The Conseil National de l’Ordre des infirmiers was created in November 2008 and its members have formally elected their first President on Wednesday 14 January.