Meet the Team

GPs (General Practitioners) are doctors who look after patients in the community. They are able to:

• take a patient’s history
• carry out assessment and physical examinations
• order tests
• diagnose illnesses
• treat all common medical conditions
• prescribe medications
• offer treatment and advice
• refer patients to hospitals and other medical services for urgent and specialist treatment

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:

• provide advanced nursing care
• take a patient’s history
• carry out assessments and physical examinations
• order tests
• diagnose illnesses
• prescribe most medications
• offer treatment and advice
• make referrals to hospital doctors or other healthcare professionals

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.

Physician Associates (PA) work alongside doctors and the rest of our primary care team to:

• take medical histories
• carry out physical examinations
• order tests and interpret the results
• diagnose illnesses
• draw up management and treatment plans
• see patients with long-term conditions
• offer advice on healthy lifestyles and disease prevention

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.

Clinical pharmacists  are able to assess and treat patients using their expert knowledge of medicines. They:

• can prescribe medication (if they have an independent prescriber qualification)
• review and monitor medications
• offer advice to patients and other members of the practice team about medication
• make sure that medication doses are safe
• support patients with chronic diseases to proactively manage their condition

First contact physiotherapists (FCPs) are trained to help patients with musculoskeletal conditions. They will:

• carry out an assessment
• order investigations, such as x-rays, or make onward referrals where necessary
• diagnose problems
• recommend appropriate treatment, such as exercises

All FCPs have received extensive training, which means they can identify red flag symptoms which may need medical attention from a different healthcare professional.

Healthcare assistants (HCAs) are an important part of our nursing team. They can:

• carry out health checks
• sterilise equipment
• restock consulting rooms
• process laboratory samples
• take blood samples
• do health promotion or health education work

HCAs work closely with our nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals and have a lot of direct contact with patients.

Practice managers look after the day-to-day running of the practice and work closely with our partners to make sure that patients receive high quality care. Their job includes:

liaising with other parts of the health service, such as integrated care boards and primary care networks

business planning

recruiting, training and supervising non-clinical staff

supervising appointment systems that work well for patients and clinicians

ensuring accurate records are kept

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:

• welcome patients to the surgery
• ask questions about their condition so that they can help arrange the right help
• book face-to-face or telephone appointments
• offer self-help advice
• signpost patients to other services

Our care navigators play and important role in supporting communication between patients, doctors and other medical staff.

Dispensers help to make sure we have the right drugs in stock to meet our patients’ needs. Their responsibilities include:

• issuing stock items
• handing out prescriptions, collecting prescription charges and checking that prescription exemptions are completed correctly
• processing and dispensing repeat prescription requests
• collecting charges for private medications and vaccines
• monitoring stock levels and restocking medications

Paramedics Are highly skilled clinicians who will visit patients in their own homes. They will:

• carry out an in-person assessment
• make decisions about the best way to meet the patient’s needs
• arrange treatment, referrals, a hospital admission or other support quickly and thoroughly

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.