Practice nurses are qualified and registered nurses. They can help with health issues such as family planning, healthy living advice, blood pressure checks and dressings. The practice nurses run clinics for long-term health conditions such as asthma or diabetes, minor ailment clinics and carry out cervical smears.

Healthcare assistants support practice nurses with their daily work and carry out tasks such as phlebotomy (drawing blood), blood pressure measurement and new patient checks. They may act as a chaperone when a patient or doctor requests one.

The practice manager is involved in managing all of the business aspects of the practice such as making sure that the right systems are in place to provide a high quality of patient care, human resources, finance, patient safety, premises and equipment and information technology. The practice manager supports the GPs and other medical professionals with delivering patient services and also helps to develop extended services to enhance patient care.

Receptionists are trained to help you at every stage of your care, making arrangements for all your medical requirements. By letting the Receptionist know why you are ringing, they may be able to help you without having to speak to, or make an appointment, to see the doctor. Reception is a very busy area, please be as patient and understanding as possible. If you are not called for an appointment within 15 minutes, tell the receptionist, or if you start to feel increasingly unwell. Receptionists are following doctor’s instructions. If you are unhappy with a service they are providing, please ask to speak to the practice manager.

For contact details please ask at reception.

Community nurses are attached to the Practice, providing nursing care in the home for those who are too ill to attend the surgery.

A health visitor is a registered nurse who has received training particularly related to babies, children and pregnant women. Their role is to provide families with children under five years old with support and advice around the general aspects of mental, physical and social wellbeing. For contact details please ask at reception.