Y2 The Team Around the Patient

Question 1

Who are the members of the traditional PHCT?

Answer 1

GP partners
GP assistants and other salaried doctors
GP registrars
Practice nurses
Practice managers
Receptionists
Community nurses
Midwives
Health visitors
Nurse practitioners

Question 2

What does PHCT stand for?

Answer 2

Primary health care team

Question 3

What does a GP partner do?

Answer 3

Most of work is within consultations in the surgery or during home visits
Provide complete spectrum of care within the local community
Increasing work in teams with other professions to help patients take responsibility for their own health

Question 4

What is the role of a practice nurse?

Answer 4

They have many roles and may also have direct supervision over healthcare assistants at the practice
Involved in most aspects of patient care including obtaining blood samples, ECGs, wound management, travel health advice, family planning, smoking cessation etc

Question 5

What is the role of a district nurse?

Answer 5

Visit people in their homes to provide health care
Also have a teaching and support role, working with patients to enable them to care for themselves
Assess healthcare needs of patients and families, monitor the quality of care they are receiving

Question 6

What is the role of a midwife?

Answer 6

Provide care during all stages of pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period

Question 7

What is the role of a health visitor?

Answer 7

Lead and deliver child and family health services (pregnancy through 5 years)
Provide ongoing additional services for vulnerable children and families

Question 8

What is the role of a Macmillan nurse?

Answer 8

Specialise in palliative care, providing support and information to people with cancer, and their families, friends and cares, from the point of diagnosis onwards
They offer specialised pain and symptom control, emotional support, care in a variety of settings, information about cancer treatments, advice to other members of the caring team, co-ordinated care between the hospital and the patient’s home and advice on other forms of support including financial help

Question 9

What are some examples of allied healthcare professionals?

Answer 9

Physiotherapy
Occupational therapy
Dietetics
Podiatry
Pharmacy
Counselling

Question 10

What is the role of a pharmacist?

Answer 10

Expert in medicines and their use
Advise medical and nursing staff on the selection and appropriate use of medicines
Provide information to patients on how to manage their medications

Question 11

What is the role of a dietician?

Answer 11

Enable people to make informed and practical choices about food and lifestyle in health and disease
They may work with people who have special dietary needs, inform general public about nutrition, offer unbiased advice, evaluate and improve treatments and educate patients, other healthcare professionals and community groups

Question 12

What is the role of a physiotherapist?

Answer 12

Help and treat people with physical problems caused by illness, accident or ageing
Skills include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and the application of electro-physical modalities

Question 13

What is the role of an occupational therapist?

Answer 13

Assessment and treatment of physical and psychiatric conditions using specific activity to prevent disability and promote independent function in all aspects of daily life
Work with people in several areas: physical rehab, mental health services, learning disability, primary care, paediatrics, environmental adaptation, care management and equipment for daily living

Question 14

What are some secondary care services?

Answer 14

Hospital consultants
Diagnostic imaging
Operating services

Question 15

What is the role of a care manager?

Answer 15

Experts who work with individuals to identify their goals and locate the specific support services that enhance well-being
Highly trained social workers who work with the patient to advise on social and financial support services

Question 16

What are some other professions that may be involved in patient care?

Answer 16

Complimentary therapists such as acupuncture or homeopathy
Social services such as social workers or social care workers
Health promotion such as gyms and education

Question 17

What parts of the PHCT can be affected by change?

Answer 17

Which professional groups are part of the PHCT
Which professional groups work alongside the PHCT
The working relationship between these different professional groups

Question 18

What are the economic factors that may affect the PHCT?

Answer 18

About 60% of primary healthcare premises are still owned by GPs
Many existing premises are too small or unfit for purpose and growing numbers of new GPs need to be accommodated
There is a trend away from smaller premises to larger private owned buildings
Developing trend towards wider range of services within enlarged premises

Question 19

What are the political pressures that may affect the PHCT?

Answer 19

Pressure to reduce the cost of treatment

Provide more treatments closer to where the patients live

Question 20

What should the PHC team do?

Answer 20

Recognise and include patient as an essential member of the PHCT at individual patient-centred team level or at practice level
Establish a common agreed purpose (share understanding of team working)
Agree set objectives and monitor progress towards them
Agree team working conditions, including a process for resolving conflict
Ensure that each team member understands and acknowledges the skills and knowledge of team colleagues
Pay particular attention to the importance of communication
Take active steps to ensure that the practice population understands and accepts the way in which the team works within the community
Select the leader of the team for their leadership skills and include all relevant professions within the team
Promote teamwork across health and social care
Evaluate team working initiatives
Ensure sharing of patient information is in accordance with legal and professional requirements
Take active steps to facilitate professional collaboration and understanding
Be aware of other measures which impact on teamworking e.g. national organisations, educational measures