Physician Associates (PA) is a relatively new role to the UK, but one that is becoming more and more implemented. PAs are educated in a similar way to doctors, having graduated with a higher qualification, usually a Masters, from a medical school that we share with students studying medicine. PAs are not the same as doctors however, chiefly in that our learning is more general and not focussed on the more advance and specific topics of medicine. PAs are also unable to prescribe. They key the role the of a PA is that they work with and under the supervision of a senior clinician, meaning they are always learning and delivering care under instruction. Within primary care, PAs remain generalists and look to tackle a wide array of common presentations but you might also find PAs in hospital medicine in both medical and surgical specialities. In the near future, PAs are expected to be regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC) and will hopefully receive prescribing rights.

The practice pharmacy team comprise of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Clinical pharmacists work as part of the general practice team to improve value and outcomes from medicines and consult with and treat patients directly. This includes providing extra help to manage long-term conditions, advice for those on multiple medicines, performing medication reviews and allowing better access to health checks. The role is pivotal to improving the quality of care and ensuring patient safety. Having clinical pharmacists in GP practices means that GPs can focus their skills where they are most needed, for example on diagnosing and treating patients with more complex conditions. This helps GPs to manage the demands on their time.

Practice nurses are qualified 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.

Our administrative teams consist of Secretaries, Scanning and Coding, Choose and Book and Medical Record Summarising.

Receptionists provide basic information on services and results and direct you to the right person depending on your health issue or query. Receptionists make most of the patient appointments with the GPs and nurses. They also perform other important tasks such as issuing repeat prescriptions and dealing with prescription enquiries, dealing with financial claims, dealing with patient records and carrying out searches and practice audits. Each member of staff has to undertake a rigorous induction and gain qualification in Care Navigation. You will hear the term “Care Navigators” and this is our Reception Team.

The Community Midwives are now entirely responsible for arranging antenatal care. There are regular antenatal classes at the Haverhill Health Centre, but all antenatal clinics are held either at the Rosie Maternity Hospital in Cambridge or the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St.Edmunds. After you have delivered, the midwife will look after you and your baby for the first fortnight. Telephone number: 01440 766027 If you are unable to contact the midwife in an emergency, contact the surgery on 01440 840 380

Your health professional may complete a referral which they email to our care coordination centre securely or you can call the Care Coordination Centre yourself on 0300 123 242.