New roles help more patients access GP clinics

A GP SURGERY scheme has delivered an extra 35,000 appointments to patients at four clinics.

- By SUE KIRBY

Patients in Eston Primary Care Network (PCN) are benefiting from investment in additional staff who delivered the appointments last year.

The PCN, made up of four GP practices in the area, recruited 28 new staff across a host of roles to reflect the growing needs of the patient population.

A number of roles have been created via funding from a national Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, helping them to boost the support they can offer patients.

The new roles include alcohol support, pharmacists, physiotherapy and a children and young person’s mental health practitioner.

The PCN has also recruited five new physician associates who work alongside GPs to provide care as part of a multidisciplinary team. These five clinicians alone provided an extra 16,000 appointments last year.

Other new roles include: ■Dietician - to diagnose and treat diet and nutritional problems