Expanding our workforce - Information about ARRS roles
Primary care services across the country provide the first point of contact in the healthcare system, acting as the ‘front door’ of the NHS. Primary care includes general practice, community pharmacy, dental, and optometry (eye health) services.
As part of General Practice, there are people working in a number of different roles alongside GPs that can all help you with your needs. Together they can get you the right care from the right healthcare professional as quickly as possible.
In expanding general practice capacity, the goverment has introduced the ARRS scheme, which improves access for patients, supports the delivery of new services and widens the range of offers available in primary care.
At the Grove Medical Centre, we have a range of ARRS practitioners that may consult and support you, as part of your care. We we work in collaboration with Clinical Pharmacists, Paramedics and Physician Associates and we are employing an Advanced Nurse Practitioner. We also have care Coordinators.
- Care coordinators are personalised care professionals who help to provide capacity, and expertise to support patients in preparing for or following up clinical conversations with clinical teams. They work closely with the GPs and other primary care professionals within the PCN to identify and manage a caseload of identified patients. Together they make sure that appropriate support is made available to the patient and their carers and ensure that their changing needs are addressed.
- Advanced Nurse Practitioners are autonomous in making decisions based on assessment, diagnosis and interpretation of test results. ANPs are able to independently prescribe appropriate medication, evaluate or refer to other specialists if necessary.
- Clinical pharmacists work in primary care in a patient facing role to clinically assess and treat patients using their expert knowledge of medicines. They will be prescribers, or if not, are working to complete an independent prescribing qualification following completion of an approved 18-training pathway or equivalent. They work with and alongside the general practice team, taking responsibility for patients with chronic diseases and undertaking structured medication reviews to proactively manage people with complex polypharmacy, especially for the elderly, people in care homes and those with multiple comorbidities.
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A paramedic in primary care can provide a rapid response to deteriorating patients and patients with long-term conditions, minor injuries, and minor illness. They can also support patients who require wound care, have fallen, have musculoskeletal problems, and have urinary tract or respiratory infections. Paramedics can supply a range of medicines through patient group directions, including antibiotics and analgesics.
- Physician associates are healthcare professionals, with a generalist clinical education, who work alongside GPs to provide care as part of the multidisciplinary team. They provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking and clinical assessment through to diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation. Whilst physician associates currently do not have prescribing rights prescribe, they can prepare prescriptions for GPs to sign.
Physician associates:
- Demonstrate critical thinking in the clinical decision-making process, including assessment and diagnostic skills, leading to the delivery of safe care for all patients.
- Work collaboratively with the practice team to meet the needs of the patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures.
- Provide a holistic and clinical service, with support from GPs as required, implementing agreed management plans, and following approved protocols as appropriate