Other Clinical Roles

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Advanced Clinical Practitioners

Advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) are healthcare professionals, with the skills and knowledge to allow them to expand their scope of practice to better meet the needs of the people they care for.  Our ACPs help deal with our Urgent Care Surgeries. 

Physician Associates

Physician Associate (formerly known as Physician Assistant) is a rapidly growing healthcare role in the UK, working alongside doctors in hospitals and in GP surgeries. Physician Associates support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients. They are trained to perform a number of roles including: taking medical histories, performing examinations, analysing test results, and diagnosing illnesses under the direct supervision of a doctor.

Dietitians 

Dietitians are qualified health care professionals who are regulated by the Health Care Professions Council. Dietitians are experts in food and nutrition and can assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems.

The practice dietitians hold weekly clinics face to face and telephone.

Reasons why you might see a dietitian

We can help you with the following:

• You need to regain weight following ill-health or as the result of a medical condition.
• You want to lose weight in a safe and sensible way.
• You suffer with digestive problems such as constipation, reflux, Irritable bowel or coeliac disease.
• You have been diagnosed with a medical condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or a high cholesterol level and aren’t sure which foods to eat.
• You have a poor appetite and are losing weight when you don’t want to.
• You would like to eat a healthier diet but don’t know where to start.
• You are experiencing symptoms of a food allergy or intolerance.

If you feel you would benefit from speaking to a dietitian you can tell the receptionist or your doctor / nurse that you would like to see a dietitian.

Mental Health Team 

Provide signposting, information and advice on local mental health services. Support access to services and resources in the community. Undertake an initial needs assessment of people with mental health issues and their carers to establish care and support needs and any risks.

First Contact Physios

Our musculoskeletal first contact practitioners are physiotherapists with enhanced skills. They can help patients with musculoskeletal issues such as back, neck and joint pain by:

• assessing and diagnosing issues
• giving expert advice on how best to manage their conditions
• referring them onto specialist services if necessary.

Patients with back and joint pain, including conditions such as arthritis, will now be able to contact their local physiotherapist directly, rather than waiting to see a GP or being referred to hospital. Patients can also see a physiotherapist by speaking to the GP practice receptionist or by being referred by their GP.

By making it easier for patients to access physiotherapist, patients will have quicker access to diagnosis and treatment, helping them to manage their conditions more effectively and recover faster, so they can get back to normal life quickly.  They will help GPs to manage their workload more effectively, and reduce the need for onward referrals.

Care Co-ordinator Team

Our Care Co-ordinators can connect people with non-medical support, such as day centres, charities or community groups, in the community to improve their wellbeing and tackle social isolation. Social prescribers usually work in a GP surgery, health centre of community organisation.