GP practice roles

Care coordinators play a key role in supporting patients and ensuring they receive the right care at the right time. They work closely with GPs, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to help manage your care, particularly if you have long-term conditions or complex health needs.

Care coordinators can:

• Help you understand your treatment and next steps.
• Arrange appointments, tests, and follow-ups.
• Connect you with local support services and community resources.
• Provide guidance on managing long-term conditions.
• Support your overall well-being by ensuring all aspects of your care are well-organized.

By acting as a link between you and different healthcare services, care coordinators make it easier for you to navigate the healthcare system and receive the best possible support.

Paramedics are an important part of the healthcare team in general practice, providing expert care for a range of conditions. They have advanced training in assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients, particularly those with urgent or minor illnesses and injuries.

In a GP practice, paramedics can:

• Assess and treat minor injuries and illnesses.
• Carry out home visits for patients who are unable to attend the surgery.
• Provide urgent care and support for patients with worsening conditions.
• Assist with managing long-term conditions.
• Work alongside GPs and nurses to ensure you receive the right care.

By bringing their emergency care experience into general practice, paramedics help ensure patients get timely and effective treatment, whether in the surgery or at home.

Health and wellbeing coaches support patients in making positive lifestyle changes to improve their physical and mental health. They work alongside GPs and other healthcare professionals to help you set and achieve personal health goals, empowering you to take control of your well-being.

Health and wellbeing coaches can:

• Provide guidance on healthy eating, physical activity, and managing stress.
• Support you in setting realistic health goals and making sustainable changes.
• Help with managing long-term conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
• Offer encouragement and motivation to build healthier habits.
• Connect you with local support groups and community services.

By focusing on what matters to you, health and wellbeing coaches can help you make lasting improvements to your overall health.

Pharmacy technicians play a vital role in supporting safe and effective medication use within GP practices. They work alongside GPs, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure patients receive the right medicines and understand how to take them correctly.

Pharmacy technicians can:

• Help with medication reviews and answer questions about your prescriptions.
• Support safe prescribing and ensure medicines are used effectively.
• Assist with repeat prescriptions and medication changes.
• Provide advice on how to take your medicines safely.
• Offer guidance on managing long-term conditions with medication.

By improving medication management, pharmacy technicians help ensure you get the most benefit from your treatment while reducing risks.

Physician associates (PAs) are trained healthcare professionals who work alongside GPs to assess, diagnose, and manage a wide range of health conditions. They provide medical care to patients of all ages and help ensure you receive timely and effective treatment.

Physician associates can:

• Take medical histories and perform physical examinations.
• Diagnose and manage common health conditions.
• Request and interpret tests, such as blood tests and scans.
• Develop treatment plans in collaboration with GPs.
• Provide health advice and support for managing long-term conditions.

Although physician associates are not GPs, they are highly trained and work under the supervision of a GP to provide high-quality care.

General practitioners (GPs) are highly trained doctors who provide medical care for people of all ages. They are often the first point of contact for health concerns and play a key role in diagnosing, treating, and managing a wide range of conditions.

GPs can:

• Assess symptoms, provide diagnoses, and recommend treatment.
• Prescribe medication and arrange further tests if needed.
• Manage long-term conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease.
• Offer advice on lifestyle changes to improve overall health.
• Refer patients to specialists or hospital care when necessary.

GPs work closely with other healthcare professionals, ensuring patients receive the right care and support. They focus on both immediate health concerns and long-term well-being.

Social prescribing link workers help connect patients with non-medical support to improve their health and well-being. They focus on what matters to you, providing guidance and linking you with local services, activities, and support networks.

Social prescribing link workers can:

• Support your mental health and emotional well-being.
• Help with issues such as loneliness, housing, or financial concerns.
• Connect you with community groups, exercise classes, and social activities.
• Assist with lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating and stopping smoking.
• Empower you to take control of your health and well-being.

By addressing the wider factors that affect health, social prescribing link workers help improve quality of life and overall well-being.

Practice nurses are experienced healthcare professionals who provide a wide range of essential services to support your health and well-being. They work alongside GPs and other healthcare staff to deliver high-quality care for patients of all ages.

Practice nurses can:

• Administer vaccinations, including childhood immunisations and travel vaccines.
• Carry out health checks, wound care, and dressings.
• Help manage long-term conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure.
• Provide contraception advice and cervical screening (smear tests).
• Offer support and guidance on lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or weight management.

Practice nurses play a key role in both preventive care and managing ongoing health conditions, helping to keep you well.

Nurse practitioners are highly trained nurses with advanced skills in diagnosing, treating, and managing a wide range of health conditions. They work independently and alongside GPs to provide expert care for patients.

Nurse practitioners can:

• Assess symptoms, diagnose illnesses, and recommend treatment.
• Prescribe medication and manage long-term conditions.
• Carry out health checks and screenings.
• Provide urgent care for minor illnesses and injuries.
• Offer advice on managing your health and well-being.

With their advanced training, nurse practitioners can provide many of the same services as a GP, helping to ensure patients receive timely and effective care.

Advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) are highly skilled healthcare professionals with advanced training in diagnosing, treating, and managing a wide range of health conditions. They work alongside GPs, nurses, and other healthcare staff to provide expert patient care.

Advanced clinical practitioners can:

• Assess, diagnose, and treat various illnesses and conditions.
• Prescribe medication and manage treatment plans.
• Carry out physical examinations and request diagnostic tests.
• Provide urgent and routine care for patients of all ages.
• Support the management of long-term conditions such as diabetes and asthma.

With their advanced knowledge and experience, ACPs play a key role in ensuring patients receive timely, high-quality care.

If you have a health concern, an Advanced Clinical Practitioner may be able to help.

Health care assistants (HCAs) play an important role in supporting the healthcare team and assisting with a variety of tasks to ensure the smooth running of the practice. They provide direct care and support to patients under the supervision of nurses and GPs.

Health care assistants can:

• Take basic health measurements, such as blood pressure, weight, and temperature.
• Assist with routine procedures, such as blood tests or urine samples.
• Help with dressing wounds and changing bandages.
• Offer support to patients during health checks and vaccinations.
• Provide general assistance with managing appointments and patient queries.

While health care assistants are not involved in diagnosing or prescribing treatment, they are essential in providing hands-on support to patients and ensuring quality care.