General Practice Assistant inDagenham inDagenham PUBLISHED 19 DEC 2023

• Check and monitor the practice incoming emails that are received in the NHS Email account, responding to patient.
• Sorting all clinical post and prioritising for the GP in terms of actions. Signposting some post to others such as clinical pharmacist etc.
• Extracting all information from clinical letters that needs coding and adding to notes.
• Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow up appointments of patients.
• Preparing patients prior to going in to see the GP, taking a brief history and basic readings in readiness for the GP appointment.
• Dipping urine, taking blood pressure, ECGs & phlebotomy.
• Completing basic (non-opinion) forms and core elements of some forms for the GP to approve and sign such as insurance forms, mortgage, benefits agency forms etc.
• Explaining treatment procedures to patients.
• Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies e.g. getting an on call doctor on the phone to ask advice or arrange admission while the GP can continue with their consultation(s).
• Support the GP with immunisations/wound care.

Further details will be given during the interview stage.

General Practice Assistants (GPAs) form part of a multi-disciplinary team within primary care, and provide a support role, carrying out administrative tasks, combined in some areas with basic clinical duties, helping to free up GPs time and contribute to the smooth running of appointments, improving patients experience in the surgery.

• Improving patient access and releasing highly qualified staff to concentrate on treating and managing patients with more complex conditions
• Improving patient flow within surgery hours, increasing the time efficiency of appointments, and reduction of waiting times; supporting patient experience by translating or reiterating information from the GP
• Have a positive impact on retention and job satisfaction
• Reduce time spent by GPs on managing correspondence