Primary care MDT

Question 1

General Practitioner

Answer 1

• GPs are doctors providing a complete spectrum of care within the local community: dealing with problems that often combine physical, psychological and social components.
• They increasingly work in teams with other professions, helping patients to take responsibility for their own health.

Question 2

Practice Nurse

Answer 2

• General practice nurses work in GP surgeries.
• They might be involved in most aspects of patient care including:
• Obtaining blood samples
• ECGs
• Minor and complex wound management including leg ulcers
• Travel health advice and vaccinations
• Child immunisations and advice

Question 3

Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Answer 3

• A nurse who has undertaken higher training and manages his or her own caseload.
• They may specialise in acute or chronic disease management and are often able to prescribe and manage a patient independently.

Question 4

Physician Associate

Answer 4

• Physician associates support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients.
• Physician Associates might work in a GP surgery or be based in a hospital, and have direct contact with patients.
• They can take histories and examine in a similar way to doctors, and formulate diagnoses.
• At this time, they are unable to prescribe.

Question 5

District Nurse

Answer 5

• District nurses visit people in their own homes or in residential care homes, providing increasingly complex care for patients and supporting family members.
• They are also accountable for their own patient caseloads and may be involved in coordinating care with other member of the team, and performing practical procedures such as wound care or administering medication via syringe drivers to the terminally unwell patients cared for at home.

Question 6

Midwife

Answer 6

• Midwives provide care during all stages of pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period.
• Many midwives now work in the community, providing services in women’s homes, local clinics, children’s centres and GP surgeries.

Question 7

Health Visitor

Answer 7

• A trained nurse/midwife who visits people in their homes to assist or advise the chronically ill or parents with very young children.
• Lead and deliver child and family health services (pregnancy through to 5 years).
• Provide ongoing additional services for vulnerable children and families.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary services in safeguarding and protecting children.

Question 8

Macmillan Nurse

Answer 8

• Macmillan nurses specialise in cancer and palliative care, providing support and information to people with cancer, and their families, friends and carers, from the point of diagnosis onwards

Question 9

Paramedic Practitioner

Answer 9

• A Paramedic Practitioner can assess, diagnose, treat, refer or signpost patients/service users who attend a GP surgery with undifferentiated or undiagnosed condition relating to minor illness or minor injury.
• They work alongside and support community health care teams and GPs.
• They are able to help with often elderly and vulnerable patients potentially with complex medical and social issues

Question 10

Pharmacist

Answer 10

• A pharmacist is an expert in medicines and their use.
• The majority of pharmacists practice in hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy or in primary care pharmacy, working to ensure that patients get the maximum benefit from their medicines.

Question 11

Dietetics

Answer 11

• Dietetics is the interpretation and communication of nutrition science to enable people to make informed and practical choices about food and lifestyle in health and disease.
• A dietitian will be trained in hospital and community settings as part of their course.

Question 12

Physiotherapist

Answer 12

• Physiotherapists help and treat people with physical problems caused by illness, accident or ageing.
• They help patients to improve the physical function of their body, rather than adjusting the external environment.

Question 13

Occupational Therapist

Answer 13

• Occupational therapy is the assessment and treatment of physical and psychiatric conditions using specific activity to prevent disability and promote independent function in all aspects of daily life.
• They often complement the physiotherapist by adjusting the environment around the patient

Question 14

Care Manager

Answer 14

• Care managers are experts in working with individuals to identify their goals and locate the specific support services that enhance well-being.
• When faced with the array of choices and challenging decisions, care managers provide support to find the best solutions.
• They are highly trained social workers who work with the patient to advise on social and financial support services.

Question 15

Practice Manager

Answer 15

• Usually employed by the GP.
• Their role is in running the business of the practice, resolving staff and financial issues.
• They are often an interface with the public and the organisational structures of the NHS.
• Usually meet regularly with the GP and wider practice team.

Question 16

Receptionist

Answer 16

• May have no formal training although most attend local courses.
• Employed by GP.
• Often the first person to be contacted when a patient requires help from the NHS.
• They have reception and administrative responsibilities.
• They do not participate in medical tasks as they are not trained for this.

Question 17

Medical Secretary

Answer 17

• May have some specific training in medical work in addition to basic secretarial training.
• They help produce correspondence, and are an administrative and communication link between GP’s in Primary Care and the Hospital Consultants.

Question 18

Carer

Answer 18

• A Carer may be paid, working for the Council, or working for a private company.
• However, there are around 6.5 million unpaid Carers in the UK.
• They may help with basic activities of daily living, e.g. dressing, washing and feeding, or provide social support.
• Unpaid Carers are most likely to be caring for a family member who is in poor health.