Practice nurses are qualified and registered nurses. They can help with health issues such as family planning, healthy living advice, blood pressure checks and dressings. The practice nurses run clinics for long-term health conditions such as asthma or diabetes, minor ailment clinics and carry out cervical smears.

Receptionists provide an important link for patients with the practice and are your initial first contact point for general enquiries. They can provide basic information on services and results and direct you to the right person depending on your health issue or query. Receptionists make most of the patient appointments with the GPs and Nurses. They also perform other important tasks such as issuing repeat prescriptions and dealing with prescription enquiries, dealing with financial claims, dealing with patient records and carrying out searches and practice audits.

First Contact Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists in general practice are experts in musculoskeletal conditions. They are able to assess, diagnose and treat a range of complex muscle and joint conditions, reducing the likelihood of needing a referral to a hospital team. They can also arrange access to further treatment, investigations and specialists when needed.

They can help by:

• Diagnosing and treating muscular and joint conditions
• Advising on how to manage your condition
• Referring you on to specialist services

Pharmacists

Clinical Pharmacists are experts in medicines and can help people stay as well as possible. They can support those with long-term conditions like asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure, or anyone taking multiple medicines, to make sure their medication is working. Many Clinical Pharmacists can also prescribe medicines.

They can help by:

• Reviewing your medicines
• Agreeing and making changes to your prescriptions
• Advising about medicines and possible side effects

Pharmacy Technicians play an important role within general practice by supporting the work of Clinical Pharmacists. They can update medication records and offer people advice on how to get the most out of their medicines.

They can help by:

• Showing you how to use your medicines
• Supporting Clinical Pharmacists to review your existing medications
• Advising you on your lifestyle choices

Paramedics

Paramedics work in a variety of roles within general practice. Their training means that they are used to working with people with a range of health conditions from minor injuries to more serious conditions such as asthma attacks and heart attacks. They help manage routine or urgent appointments and carry out home visits.

They can help by:

• Assessing and treating certain health conditions
• Attending home visits
• Ordering tests and interpreting results

Social Prescribers

Social Prescribers help people to focus on their social, emotional, and physical wellbeing, working alongside their medical team. They give people time to focus on what matters to them, helping to connect them with local groups and services for a range of practical and emotional support. This could include physical activities and social groups, volunteering and gardening, or even debt and housing advice.

They can help by:

• Supporting you to manage your health and wellbeing
• Giving you time to focus on what matters to you
• Helping you to access support services and activities

Health & Wellbeing Coaches

Health & Wellbeing Coaches support people to take steps to improve their physical and mental health conditions, based on what matters to them. They help people develop their knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing their health, to prevent long-term illness, and any existing conditions from getting worse.

They can help by:

• Providing coaching support to help you manage your condition
• Working with you to identify your health and we