Guide to Primary Care

A mixed portfolio delivers modern general practice of healthcare professionals supporting the doctors. With the development of Primary Care Networks, the team will further expand to clinicians such as paramedics and physiotherapists in the future.

Here's a guide to the types of clinicians you might encounter at Ainsdale Medical Centre


GP Partners

Some of our GPs are also partners in the practice. This means they are owners of the business that is contracted to provide General Medical Services under contract to the NHS. As well as seeing patients, the Partners have to make time to look after the management and administration of the practice.


Salaried GPs

Five of our GPs are salaried GPs. The practice employs these GPs who are permanent members of the clinical team. They are the named GP to a list of our registered patients.

 

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Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP)

Advanced Nurse Practitioners are Registered Nurses who have done extra training and academic qualifications to be able to examine, assess, make diagnoses, treat, prescribe and make referrals for patients who present with undiagnosed/undifferentiated problems. They cannot issue sick notes or consult with pregnant patients or, in some cases, patients under 18. Please check with reception if you think an ANP may be appropriate for your condition.


Practice Nurses

General Practice Nurses are a vital part of our primary healthcare team. Our practice nurses will be involved in almost every aspect of patient care and treatment, undertaking such tasks as:

  • Helping people manage long-term conditions such as diabetes, asthma and COPD
  • Health screening
  • Family planning
  • Assisting with minor operations
  • Running vaccination programmes
  • Administering child immunisations

The role allows nurses to develop long-term relationships with individuals and families, managing their conditions and improving physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Watch a short video produced by NHS called 'A Day in The Life of a Practice Nurse'


Health Care Assistants (HCA)

The role of HCA is evolving in the NHS workforce, but they have long been a central part of the healthcare team at Ainsdale Medical Centre. Supplementing and supporting the work of the practice nurses, they carry out a wide range of tasks, which includes.

  • Taking and processing blood samples
  • Diagnostic tests such as ECG
  • Administering some kinds of vaccination and immunisations
  • Assisting with minor operations
  • Conducting reviews with people with long-term conditions such as diabetes
  • Health reviews and the provision of lifestyle advice

Watch a short video produced by the NHS called 'A Day in The Life of a Health Care Assistant'

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General Practice Assistant (GPA)

The role of a GPA is to provide a support role, carrying out administrative tasks combined in some areas with basic clinical duties, helping to free up GPs' time and, contributing to the smooth running of appointments, improving patients' experience in the surgery.

  • Taking and processing blood samples
  • Diagnostic tests such as ECG
  • Blood pressure checks & pulse checks

Independent Prescribing Pharmacist

Clinical pharmacists work as part of the general practice team to improve the value and outcomes of medicines and consult with and treat patients directly. This includes providing extra help to manage long-term conditions, advice for those on multiple medicines and better access to health checks. The role is pivotal to improving the quality of care and ensuring patient safety.

Having clinical pharmacists in GP practices means that GPs can focus their skills where they are most needed, for example, on diagnosing and treating patients with more complex conditions. This helps GPs to manage the demands on their time.


Junior Doctors /Trainee Doctors

Medical graduates enter the medical workforce as ‘junior doctors’ on a two-year work-based training
programme. This is known as the ‘foundation programme’ and is the first level of clinical training for qualified doctors that bridges the gap between medical school and speciality training.

The foundation programme is carried out in hospitals, and the two years are often referred to as ‘FY1.’
(foundation year one) or ‘FY2’ (foundation year two) by medical staff, and as such, junior doctors on the foundation programme may introduce themselves to patients as ‘FY1’ or ‘FY2’ doctors. Foundation Stage 2 Doctors complete a four-month General Practice rotation and work under our experienced GPs' supervision.

Completion of FY1 allows junior doctors to gain full registration with the GMC, and completion of FY2 allows them to apply for further study and training in a specialised area of medicine, such as general practice.

Typically, the speciality trainee (ST) doctors who work at the surgery and are in the third and final year of their qualification to be a GP are known as ST3 doctors and also, sometimes, as Registrars.

 

 

 

 

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Contact Us

Ainsdale Medical Centre
66 Station Rd
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 3HW
Tel: 01704 575133