GP surgeries have changed the way they work to meet patient needs and increased demand. There is now a wider range of medical staff at surgeries and different ways to get help such as telephone, video, and online consultations, as well as face-to-face appointments.
Access to GP services is an issue we hear about regularly at Healthwatch Northumberland. In our ‘getting the most from your GP surgery’ booklet we explain more about the range of staff roles at surgeries, different ways to access healthcare and how to make the most of your GP appointment.
Why do I have to tell the receptionist so much about my concern?
Reception staff need to ask enough questions to make sure you get the best appointment with the right person. This may not always be your GP, as there are specialist services that may be more appropriate for your needs, for example, a dietician for
concerns around food allergies or intolerances.
Who might I see at the GP surgery?
Your GP surgery will employ some or all of the healthcare professionals listed below.
Advanced Practitioners: include nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians or podiatrists. They can help with a variety of health conditions and can prescribe medication and make referrals to other specialist services.
Clinical Pharmacists: can carry out medication reviews, particularly for long-term and chronic health conditions. Some can also prescribe medication and manage prescriptions.
Care Coordinators: ensure patients have more joined-up care and that their care needs are met, particularly for those who are frail and/or elderly, and people with long-term health conditions
Dieticians: diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems, give advice on food and nutrition, and offer support with diabetes, digestive issues, food allergies and intolerances and weight loss/gain.
General Practice Nurses: can do many of the same tasks as GPs. They assess and treat people of all ages, provide wound care, screenings and blood tests, as well as vaccinations. They also offer advice on contraception, women and men’s health issues, weight loss and stopping smoking.
Health and Wellness Coaches: find solutions or lifestyle changes to enable people to lead happier lives. They help people to form a personalised health and care plan to achieve their goals.
Mental Health Practitioners: support people with severe mental health illness to live well in their communities. They can work with patients whose mental health needs cannot be met through, for example, talking therapies, but who may not need care from more specialist services such as psychiatric care. They can often help children and young people as well as adults and can help make referrals to suitable services for support.
Occupational Therapists: work with ill, disabled or injured patients,including those who have returned home following a hospital stay. They help with adaptations to people’s homes so they can continue to live independently.
Physician Associates: work alongside GPs. They cannot prescribe medication but can prepare prescriptions for GPs to sign and can diagnose, order tests and make referrals.
Physiotherapists: work with patients who have joint or muscle problems including those recovering from serious injuries or illness and those with new injuries. They can book scans and tests and are trained to recognise when a joint or muscle problem may be a sign of something more serious. Patients can often make an appointment with a physiotherapist directly themselves (self-refer) or can be referred by a GP or other healthcare professional.
Paramedics: can provide a rapid response to patients with long-term conditions, minor injuries and minor illness. They can supply a range of medicines and support patients who require wound care, have fallen, or have musculoskeletal problems, and can treat some types of infections.
Podiatrists: can diagnose and treat foot and lower leg conditions and provide foot care for short-term or long-term conditions.
Social Prescribing Link Workers: help address the non-medical issues that may be affecting your health and wellbeing. They can connect you to local services and community groups for practical or emotional support.
Find out more by viewing our ‘getting the most from your GP surgery’ booklet or download as a pdf.
Tell us your experiences of making appointments and visiting your GP surgery.
