Gp Assistant

Ø A skilled member of the multidisciplinary practice team, performing advanced administrative, and basic clinical tasks for patients on behalf of the GPs. This directly patient-facing role requires adaptive problem solving, excellent time-management and IT skills.

Administrative responsibilities:
The role of GPA may involve but is not limited to:
Ø Acting as GP liaison with outside agencies e.g. liaising with an outside third party (for example a coroner’s officer) for the purpose of information gathering or provision of information.

Ø Completing factual (non-opinion) GMS and non-GMS letters and forms, for the GP to approve and sign. These may include insurance forms, summary requests, benefits agency forms etc.

Ø Working in liaison with GPs to enable the achievement of QOF, IIF and similar practice incentive schemes. This may involve constructing and running clinical reports on the EMR, contacting patients, booking appointments, information gathering and other activities to support the achievement of these programme aims.

Ø Processing Subject Access Requests through the use of the iGPR software when required.

Ø Champion continuous improvement of practice administrative and (where relevant) clinical processes. This will require familiarity with ‘reflective practice’ and ‘PDSA cycles.’

Ø Processing inbound clinical documents using the practice document protocol, for example, extracting information from clinical letters that needs coding and adding to notes.

Ø Report any significant events encountered to the Practice Manager

Ø To be aware of the Data Protection Act and of its importance and relevance to General Practice, working with the Caldicott guardian where appropriate.

Ø Assisting the practice and operations manager in providing a welcoming educational environment for administrative apprentices and trainee clinicians. As a senior member of the administrative team a GPA may be required to provide mentorship and support for new members of the administrative team.

Clinical responsibilities:
The role of GPA may involve but is not limited to:
Ø When directed by a GP or where appropriate within a provided clinical protocol (‘clinical pathway’), arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow-up appointments of patients.

Ø Performing urine dip testing, ECGs and phlebotomy (for example, providing on-the-day tests when clinically required).

Ø Explaining treatment procedures to patients, where specifically trained to do so.