ANPs/Advanced paramedics are highly qualified clinicians who have undergone significant education and training and come with vast clinical skills.
The role commands specific expert knowledge base and clinical competences to be able to make complex clinical decisions with patients presenting with a variety of illnesses.
They provide acute and urgent care to patients presenting to GP practice requiring on the day/urgent assessment.
ANPS/APs will be the first point of contact for patients and can be directed from the reception team through straightforward signposting processes. Patients do not require to be seen by GPs before seeing the ANP/AP.
The valuable role of ANPs/APs acts to compliment, but not replace the role of the GPs. GP’s remain the most appropriate clinician to manage complex, undifferentiated illness.
Our urgent care practitioners can assess, diagnose, prescribe and manage a number of conditions within primary care:
- Some examples of conditions they can assess are: skin issues, chest infections, exacerbation of asthma, abdominal pain, urinary tract infections, sore throats, back pain & headaches
- They can refer patients to FVRH to be seen acutely by the medical / surgical/paediatric teams and organise referrals to specialists to be seen in outpatient clinics
- Refer patients to the appropriate specialist if there is any suspicion of cancer via the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer.
- Order blood tests, x-rays and scans
- ANPs can issue patients with a sick line (fit note) if required. Currently legislation not does support advanced paramedic colleagues in issuing sick lines.
- They do not provide chronic disease management reviews such as Asthma Review, Diabetes. Fully qualified ANPs/Paramedics alongside the GP practice are involved in the training of trainee ANPs/Paramedics throughout FV. You may be seen and assessed by a trainee.
Have a look at our MDT video, this will give you an idea of some of the services we provide within the Urgent Care Team.
