Paramedic Practitioners (PPs) in Primary Care are essential, broadening healthcare services through specialised training. Going beyond traditional paramedic roles, they conduct comprehensive assessments, diagnose, and manage diverse medical conditions. Collaborating closely with healthcare professionals, PPs champion a progressive, patient-centric approach, enhancing accessibility and responsiveness to community healthcare needs. 

We also have Advanced Paramedic Practitioners (APPs) in who are highly skilled paramedics and have undergone specialised training and education, allowing them to take on advanced clinical responsibilities beyond traditional paramedic roles. In the primary care setting, APPs are adept at conducting comprehensive assessments, diagnosing and managing a wide range of medical conditions, and prescribing medications. 

The Wandsworth Primary Care Network home visiting service is designed to bring medical care directly to individuals who may face challenges accessing traditional healthcare settings, such as those with mobility issues, chronic illnesses, or the elderly. Typically, a team of healthcare professionals, including advanced paramedic practitioners, nurses, and other allied health professionals, conducts visits to patients in their homes. 

These visits may involve routine check-ups, assessments of medical conditions, medication management, and coordination of care. The aim is to provide personalised and convenient healthcare services tailored to the individual’s needs within the familiar and comfortable environment of their home.

Collaborating closely with qualified psychologists and other healthcare professionals, the assistant psychologist contributes to the assessment and intervention processes for patients experiencing a range of psychological difficulties. They often engage in activities such as conducting initial assessments, administering psychological tests, and delivering therapeutic interventions under supervision. Additionally, they may be involved in psychoeducation initiatives, providing valuable resources and support to patients and their families.

The assistant psychologist’s role within the primary care network is essential in facilitating early identification and intervention for mental health concerns, thereby promoting holistic healthcare and fostering the integration of psychological services into the broader healthcare landscape.

In an effort to promote to continuously improve our service, we have installed tablets in the surgeries which allow patients to provide feedback on their experiences. Please ask at reception for more details should you wish to provide any feedback.

Physiotherapists consider the body as a whole, rather than just focusing on the individual aspects of an injury or illness.
 
Some of the main approaches used by physiotherapists include:

education and advice – physiotherapists can give general advice about things that can affect your daily lives, such as posture and correct lifting or carrying techniques to help prevent injuries.
movement, tailored exercise and physical activity advice – exercises may be recommended to improve your general health and mobility, and to strengthen specific parts of your body.
manual therapy – where the physiotherapist uses their hands to help relieve pain and stiffness, and to encourage better movement of the body.

Physician associates (PAs) are healthcare professionals with a generalist healthcare education who work alongside doctors and surgeons providing medical care as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team. PAs work under the supervision of a named senior doctor (such as a named General Medical Council registered consultant or general practitioner) but can work autonomously with appropriate support.
 
Physician associates work alongside doctors and other healthcare professionals as part of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT).
 
PAs are part of the medical associate professions (MAPs) grouping in the health workforce and have been working in the UK since 2003.
 
PAs can be found working in primary and secondary care across 20 specialty areas in the UK such as internal medicine, general practice, surgery and emergency medicine.

Clinical pharmacists are increasingly working as part of general practice teams. They are highly qualified experts in medicines and can help people in a range of ways. This includes carrying out structured medication reviews for patients with ongoing health problems and improving patient safety, outcomes and value through a person-centred approach.
 
A successful pilot showed that clinical pharmacists in general practice are really benefiting patients. There are currently over 1000 Full Time Equivalent clinical pharmacists working across the country through the NHS England Clinical Pharmacists in General Practice Programme since it started in 2015.

Paediatric All Together clinics are joint clinics where a GP and a paediatric consultant see patients in a clinic ‘Together’. It is important to note that these clinics are not ‘just’ outreach clinics of paediatricians, but clinics, where we work together in partnership and collaboration. The patients we see in the All Together clinics or whom we discuss at multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings are the CYP (children and young people) that are usually seen in acute paediatrics in the hospital. The All Together clinics have proven to upskill GPs and paediatricians, build relationships and trust.

All Together face to face clinics are held monthly at alternating GP  practices (normally during the 4^th Tuesday of every month 2pm-5pm). A rotating GP from one of the PCN’s 6 member practices, and the paediatric consultant will see together CYP between 0-18 years with complex needs. Referrals and investigations will be done by either referring GP or paediatric consultant depending on what is needed.

The bi-monthly MDT meetings are held virtually with GPs from across the PCNs member practices (normally on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of each month 1pm-2pm). During MDT meetings our clinicians reflect on each case and will provide feedback to the referring GP with recommended actions for their patient.