Please note our practices will be closed on Monday 27th May 2024 for the May bank holiday.
Please note our practices will be closed on Monday 27th May 2024 for the May bank holiday.
When you contact us via askmyGP or by phone, you’ll be asked some questions about your condition by one of our care navigators, or receptionists. This helps us to make sure you are seen by the most appropriate member of our team who is best placed to help you.
This could include:
Staff in non-clinical roles, such as our practice managers, are also important members of our team who you may meet when you come into the surgery.
Care navigators (receptionists) are often the first people our patients will speak to on the phone or be greeted by at one of our surgeries. They are trained to help make sure everyone gets the right care to meet their needs.
They will:
Our care navigators play and important role in supporting communication between patients, doctors and other medical staff.
GPs (general practitioners) are doctors who look after patients in the community. They are able to:
GPs can also offer advice on healthy lifestyles and self-care so that patients can help themselves to stay well.
Advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) and nurse practitioners are specialist nurses who have completed extra training so that they can:
Our nurse practitioners and advanced nurse practitioners can provide treatment and advice for many problems for which patients may have seen a doctor for in the past. Although they work independently, they regularly liaise with GPs and the rest of the primary care team to make sure patients get the best possible care.
A paramedic is a highly skilled clinician who will visit patients in their own homes. They will:
Paramedics will also consider any other underlying physical or mental health issues, as well as the patient’s surroundings and safety when they visit, so that they can signpost them for further support where necessary.
Healthcare assistants (HCAs) are an important part of our nursing team. They can:
HCAs work closely with our nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals and have a lot of direct contact with patients.
A physician associate (PA) works alongside doctors and the rest of our primary care team to:
PAs can make independent decisions about patient care but work under the supervision of a doctor, who is on hand to offer help and advice if necessary. Although they are not able to prescribe, they can recommend appropriate medications which a GP will then review.
A dispenser helps to make sure we have the right drugs in stock to meet our patients’ needs. Their responsibilities include:
Clinical pharmacists are able to assess and treat patients using their expert knowledge of medicines. They:
A pharmacy technician is a healthcare professional who is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. Their key responsibilities include:
Pharmacy technicians work from a clinic list or via askmyGP and also give help and advice to colleagues who have medication queries. They work under the supervision of a clinical pharmacist and are responsible and accountable for their own accurate and safe practice.
A practice manager looks after the day-to-day running of the practice and works closely with our partners to make sure that patients receive high quality care. Their job includes:
Social prescribers help to connect people with activities, groups and services which will benefit their health and wellbeing. They will:
Social prescribers help people to take greater control of their own health by improving how they feel in a way that suits them.
Mental health practitioners help patients with complex mental health needs, such as severe depression, psychosis and bipolar disorder. They look after people who need support but don’t need – or are unable to access – secondary care from a specialist mental health provider. They can:
Mental health practitioners work closely with GPs and other primary care staff to make sure that patients get joined-up physical and mental health support.
First contact physiotherapists (FCPs) are trained to help patients with musculoskeletal conditions. They will:
All FCPs have received extensive training, which means they can identify red flag symptoms which may need medical attention from a different healthcare professional.
Health and wellbeing coaches support people to make changes to their lifestyle which will improve their health. They will:
Health and wellbeing coaches work in a person-centred way, which encourages the individual to make positive changes for themselves.
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