We have a highly skilled Team of ANPs (Clinical Practitioners as we like to think of them) working as part of the multidisciplinary team in the Practice.
What is an ANP? an independent, autonomous and expert clinician educated to an advanced level. In addition, he or she should be able to make decisions in relation to the assessment and treatment of patients, carry his or her own caseload as well as make and receive referrals from other healthcare professionals.’
What problems are appropriate for an ANP? Patients are ‘sign-posted’ by reception staff and may include people with acute exacerbations of asthma and COPD, or chest pain as well as many minor ailments. The conditions I see cover from head to toe and include all systems. I’ll diagnose a wide range of conditions including diabetes, hypertension, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections and a wide range of common skin conditions. Frequently I’ll refer to secondary care either for emergency admission or to clinics such as the rapid access chest pain clinic. Many patients also attend for advice about starting contraception, menopause and pre-pregnancy planning. Part of the day is allocated for checking test results and reviewing treatment plans. This may involve titrating medicines to comply with protocols or referring to specialist nurses such as diabetes, heart failure or respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialists. Auditing aspects of care provided by the practice and clinical supervision of nursing and support staff are also part of my role” General Practice ANP
Do GPs refer to ANPs? YES often a GP will ask the ANP to phone or see a patient if it is more appropriate. The GPs find the ANPs invaluable to providing services and managing the appointment system.
