Meet the Team

Doctors

Nursing Practitioners

Physician Associates (PAs)

What does a PA do?

Physician associates (PAs) are medically trained, healthcare professionals, who work alongside doctors and other members of the practice team to provide a range of patient care.

What can PAs do within the surgery?

• Take medical histories from patients
• Carry out physical examinations
• See patients for on the day or scheduled appointments
• Manage and treat patients of all ages and make referrals
• Review and act on laboratory results
• Run specialist clinics such as family planning, baby checks, long term conditions or minor ops – with extra training
• Teach and supervise students
• Provide patient health promotion and disease prevention advice
• Help GPs with some admin tasks

Why do we need PAs?

Due to a growing population, the advances in technology, better diagnosis, prevention and treatments, the NHS can sometimes struggle to cope. This is a new role to bring more talent, adding rather than taking away from existing members of the medical workforce and increased access for patient services and care

Qualifications

PAs must pass an intensive 2 -year university course at diploma or masters level to learn clinical knowledge and skills after completing a 3 -year biomedical or healthcare related degree. They train in hospital and GP practices to gain knowledge, skills and experience about how to look after patients.

Health Care Assistants

What are Health Care Assistants (HCAs)?

Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) play a crucial role in providing high quality and compassionate care to patients. They work as part of wider health or social care teams, working under the supervision of registered healthcare professionals.

Summary of their role

To support the practice nursing team in the delivery of nursing services, working as part of the practice multidisciplinary team, delivering care within their scope of practice to the entitled patient population.

What can HCAs do within a GP surgery?

• Undertake new patient health checks
• Support the practice nurse with health promotion programmes
• Carry out baseline observations such as pulse oximetry, blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, recording findings accurately
• Facilitate routine and 24-hour BP monitoring, advising patients accordingly
• Undertake wound care, dressings and other clinical tasks as required
• Support the practice nurse with the management of chronic disease clinics
• Carry out BMI checks as directed
• Act as a chaperone as required
• When trained, administer flu vaccinations
• Ensure specimens are recorded and ready for onward transportation
• Provide support during minor operations as required
• Ensure all clinical rooms are adequately stocked and prepared for each session
• Ensure fridges are cleaned routinely in accordance with extant guidance
• Ensure clinical waste is removed from clinical areas and sharps bins replaced in accordance with the practice IPC policy
• Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

Practice Team

Healthcare Team

Health Visitors

A health visitor is a registered nurse who has received training particularly related to babies, children and pregnant women. Their role is to provide families with children under five years old with support and advice around the general aspects of mental, physical and social wellbeing. The direct line for the health visitors is 0207 354 0597. Messages can be left at any time.