More than 240 GPs have joined the NHS in the North East and Yorkshire region through the Additional Roles Recruitment Scheme (ARRS) aimed at improving access to care, helping deliver faster, more equal services to patients.

Through the scheme, primary care networks can claim reimbursement for a variety of new roles within the multidisciplinary team, selected to meet the needs of the local population including GPs, nurses and other allied health professionals.

Learn how ARRS-funded GPs are contributing to their practices and their patients and what they enjoy the most about the role.

Dr Oliver Blow, Immingham, North Lincolnshire 

Dr Oliver Blow, The Roxton Practice

I am currently employed as a salaried GP at The Roxton Practice working eight sessions a week and also one private session a week working in Occupational Health. This is my first role after completing GP training – before this I was working as a locum Senior House Officer for three years mostly in the local area. This was mostly because I did not know what speciality I wanted to apply for. Once I realised I enjoyed the patient interactions/history the most, becoming a GP felt a natural fit.

I feel that I try my best to make sure a patient’s concerns are felt – beyond the physical aspect of their symptoms. Being a GP is not just about healing conditions but treating patients as individuals with feelings, concerns and expectations. I try my best to review all aspects of a patients care and provide a holistic approach which focuses on them as individuals.

This year I have led the setting up a new service called the integrated care clinic (ICC) which takes a more rounded approach to reviewing patient’s needs. We invite patients to discuss over an extended appointment their physical, mental, and social needs. This allows patients to explore issues which may be impacting their life but they do not have time to discuss in regular appointments. We also have a social prescriber and mental health practitioner working with me to allow better quality of care.

The feedback to this clinic has been excellent and I feel we are really making a difference at not just curing our patients but genuinely improving their quality of life.

At the current time I am really enjoying building connections to my regular patients and seeing how the continuity of care is helping in their lives. It’s great to have chats not just about their physical health needs but how their life is going and major events which they have experienced. It is rewarding to see their quality of life improve and I am glad to be working in a supportive environment such as Roxton. This is particularly the case through the ICC where you can really make a difference in helping someone through a difficult period of their life.

Dr Perry Sissons, Hartlepool, Teeside

I currently work as an ARRS-funded full-time GP between Seaton Surgery and Hart Medical Practice

Prior to this, I had just finished my GP training in the North East so this was my first GP job after training. I applied for GP role at the practice after seeing it advertised on NHS jobs.

I feel I make a difference to patients every day by being their first port of call for a variety of everyday problems, from mental health, minor illnesses, social issues and cancer support. I like to think I give people a chance to be heard and get the help they need to deal with the current struggles of everyday life.

I am still new to the surgeries but have a keen interest in sexual health following a good experience in a rotation during my training. I am keen to take on a further qualification in this and help to provide a more comprehensive sexual health service in the primary care setting.

What I love most about my job is having the privilege and ability to be able to handle any issue that people look to me for help with. Being the person that can make a radical improvement to many people’s lives through simple actions and discussions is such a reward which I feel very grateful to experience regularly.

For more information about ARRS roles and the multi-disciplinary team visit: NHS England » Expanding our workforce

Dr Perry Sissons, ARRS-funded full-time GP, Seaton Surgery/Hart Medical Practice