Your GP practice is here for you
GP practices across the Black Country are working differently to offer patient appointments. With demand for primary care services increasing and the need to have increased infection control measures in place, we need to do things in a new way.
Find out more about GP services including how to find and register with a local GP.
Find out how local GP practices are working in ‘A guide to your GP Practice – new ways of working’, the Easy Read version of the leaflet, or alternatively see below.
How are GP practices working now?
All appointments are being triaged. This gives you the chance to explain what is wrong and we can then ensure you have an appointment with the most appropriate person and to help those with the greatest need get seen first.
What is triage?
Triage is usually conducted by a trained member of the practice team, the receptionist, who will ask you a number of questions in order to assess you and decide the most appropriate type of appointment for you, this might be:
- to be seen in person (face to face)
- a phone consultation
- a video consultation
- self-care or help from a community pharmacy or optician.
Information on the types of appointments is available to read in ‘A guide to your GP Practice – new ways of working’.
GP reception staff are a vital part of the GP practice team.
They are the first point of contact at your practice and are trained to ask you questions to direct you to the most appropriate healthcare professional for your need, this is known as triage.
Jane is one of our GP reception staff. She talks about her role within the GP practice and how they are often the first voice or face you will see. They are crucial in ensuring the GP practice runs smoothly and that you see the most appropriate healthcare professional for your need.
Evening and weekend appointments
A range of appointments are available on evenings and at weekends.
Additional appointments will be available between 6.30pm and 8.00pm Monday to Friday, and between 9.00am and 5.00pm on Saturdays for all patients.
You may be offered an appointment at your GP surgery or another location nearby. This may be a:
- a face to face appointment
- a telephone consultation
- a video consultation
To book an appointment between these hours, please call your practice.
If you need an appointment out of hours, please telephone your surgery and listen to the out of hours information on the answer phone message.
Alternatively, you can go to NHS 111 online www.
GP Extended Healthcare Teams
Many GP practice teams now include a range of healthcare professionals who are highly skilled and knowledgeable in the areas they specialise in and are able to diagnose and treat a variety of health conditions.
If it is most appropriate for you to see a doctor, you will be offered an appointment with a GP. However, the GP isn’t always the best person for you to see.
Local GP, Dr Mohit Mandiratta, explains more about extended healthcare teams in GP practices.
You can read more about the different people that make up our general practice teams in the sections below.
Please note that not all practices will have all roles, as the mix of specialists is decided locally, usually within the primary care network (PCN).
Practice nurses are qualified nurses who like GPs are involved in almost every aspect of patient care and treatment. They will look after patients with long-term diseases such as asthma and diabetes, offer health screening, and also hold specialised clinics such as travel immunisations, baby immunisations, wound care, and women’s health for smear tests and contraception advice.
Meet Terence, one of our advanced nurse practitioners
Health care assistants (HCAs) work alongside the Practice Nurse to assist with blood pressure and new patient checks, health promotion, urinalysis, weight and height recording. You may also see a HCAs for certain vaccines, for example your flu vaccine.
A Physician Associate (PA) is a healthcare professional who, while not a doctor, works under the supervision of a doctor to deliver care and treatment with the general practice team. Physician associates are medically trained generalists capable of working with patients across a wide variety of conditions. This means they can diagnose and treat adults and children with a range of clinical problems.
Meet Lusekelo, one of our physician associates
A GP Registrar is a fully qualified medical doctor, who is undertaking advanced training under the supervision of a practice GP to specialise in General Practice.
A Practice Based Pharmacist is a clinical pharmacist who provides expert advice around medicines. If a condition needs diagnosing, you will usually see a GP first, who may then refer you to a practice nurse or a practice pharmacist. You may see a Practice Based Pharmacist for one of the following reasons:
- If you have a condition such as asthma, type 2 diabetes, arthritis or high blood pressure, a practice pharmacist can discuss the medicines you’re taking to make sure they’re working for you. They can also help you with lifestyle changes to help you manage your condition better.
- If you are experiencing side effects from your medicines, you can discuss these with a practice pharmacist who will work with you to find a solution, such as changing your medicine or the dosage.
- If you are taking several different medicines, or taking medicines over a long period of time. The practice pharmacist can help make sure they are working well together and will do a regular review to discuss how they are working for you.
- If your medicines have been changed after a stay in hospital, the practice pharmacist can help explain these changes and ensure you get the maximum benefit from these medicines.
You may also see a practice pharmacist instead of a GP if you are suffering from a common illness such as a cold, hay fever, diarrhoea or an eye infection. The pharmacist may be able to prescribe medicines to treat your condition.
You will always be referred to a GP, or another health professional if there is a need.
Paramedics are currently working within some GP practices to help ease pressure on GPs and the wider practice team. Paramedics can assess, examine, treat and manage patients of all age ranges with a variety of acute illnesses – those that come on quickly, from coughs, and injuries such as broken bones, to more serious conditions such asthma attacks and heart attacks – as well as chronic conditions, which are long-lasting, like arthritis and diabetes.
Physiotherapists are experts in muscle and joint conditions, also known as musculoskeletal. You may be referred to a Physiotherapists working in or with your practice to provide you with an expert diagnosis and treatment if you are experiencing these types of conditions.
Health Coaches work alongside GPs and other health professionals to educate patients on diet and lifestyle. They work with patients to help them change their behaviour, so they can make healthcare choices based on what matters to them and support them to become more active in their health and care.
Social prescribing involves helping patients to improve their health, wellbeing and welfare by connecting them to community services which might be run by the council or a local charity. For example, signposting people who have been diagnosed with dementia to local dementia support groups. In general practice, social prescribers can take the time to talk to patients about what matters to them and support them to find suitable activities that are a better alternative to medication. They connect people to community groups and services for practical and emotional support.
Meet Matt, one of our social prescribers
It is often more appropriate for patients with mental health needs to see a skilled professional, specially trained in mental health rather than a GP, therefore patients may be referred to a Mental Health Practitioner rather than other member of the practice team.
Help us to help you
Our health services are under enormous pressure, but we are open and here if needed.
Local GPs are seeing as many patients as before the COVID-19 pandemic but demand for services has increased.
You can help us and help yourself by making sure you get the right care, in the right place, at the right time appropriate for your needs.
- Use your local pharmacy for advice and over the counter treatment
- Try calling the practice later in the day if you don’t need an urgent appointment
- Please use online services where possible to keep phone lines clear
- Ensure you attend your appointment or cancel it if no longer required
- Get vaccinated to reduce pressure on services from COVID/flu.