During National Careers Week (6 – 11 March), the NHS is highlighting the range of healthcare professionals that are available at local GP practices and encouraging patients in the East Midlands to make use of them.

As part of the NHS’s commitment to grow the medical workforce and relieve pressure on GPs, physiotherapists, pharmacists, and mental health nurses, as well as other healthcare professionals, work alongside GPs to provide patients with enhanced access to health and social care services. They are known as a multidisciplinary team (MDT) and are highly skilled and knowledgeable in the areas they specialise in. MDTs can diagnose and treat a variety of health conditions.

To ensure a patient sees the right person at the right time, appointments are usually triaged by a trained member of the practice team, typically the receptionist to give them a chance to explain what is wrong.

The receptionist or member of the practice team might ask several questions to ensure that the patient has an appointment with the most appropriate person and that those with the greatest need are prioritised.

Patients can be seen face-to-face, via a phone or video consultation, or they can visit a community pharmacist or optician for further support and advice.

If a face-to-face appointment is needed, the appointment will take place at a GP practice in the local area and not always at the patient’s usual GP practice. Dr Naomi Caldwell, a GP in Northamptonshire said: “General Practice has evolved a great deal and is now led by multidisciplinary teams of highly skilled health professionals as well as GPs who can diagnose and look after your medical problems.

“Sometimes the right person for a patient to speak to will be a practice nurse or a physiotherapist or another member of the GP practice team.

“Multidisciplinary teams enable patients to receive specialist healthcare at their local practice. Whether that is for a long-term condition such as diabetes, for an injury or advice on getting the most from their medication. Multidisciplinary teams can help with mental health support or for other conditions as well.

“This is why receptionists take the time to ask additional questions to ensure that patients get the right care from the best person. We encourage patients to take the extra seconds to answer their questions and help them to help you get to the right clinician.”

As well as multidisciplinary teams, GP practices across the East Midlands are offering improved access to appointments and other general practice services.

Since 1 October last year, 35 Primary Care Networks (PCNs) across the Midlands have provided Enhanced Access weekend services. The PCNs work together to focus on local patient care and offer a mixture of morning and all-day appointments.

GP services are offering appointments until 8pm on weekdays, and from 9am-5pm on Saturdays as a minimum. Appointments are bookable in advance and available for same day (and able to be cancelled by the patient remotely).

Patients can access these appointments via telephone, video appointment, online consultation, or face-to-face.

If a face-to-face appointment is needed, the appointment will take place at a GP practice in the local area and not always at the patient’s usual GP practice.

The exact mix of what is provided through the enhanced offer at GP practices is determined on local health needs, current usage of out-of-hours services and the views of patients.

Find out more about GP services, including how to find and register with a local GP and how to book an appointment. For more information on the 350 careers available in the NHS, visit https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/.