General Practice Assistants

General Practice Assistants (GPAs) are an ARRS funded role. They perform routine admin and clinical tasks on behalf of GPs. Staff can be recruited as GPA Trainees and Apprentices and receive on the job training.

For a more detailed Job description please visit:
https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/general-practice-assistant/

In addition, GPAs need to:

• Have an annual individual performance review.
• Track and record evidence of their experience and progress against the national competency framework.
• Inform the lead GP of any concerns about their role and request professional development where needed.
• Be aware of own professional boundaries and what to do when they are reached.
• Recognise and escalate patient concerns to relevant staff as necessary.

Competency

There is a national NHS England competency framework https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/general-practice-assistant/ for GPAs which covers the core competencies expected of the GPA role. This is structured into 5 domains; Care, Administration, Clinical, Communications and Managing Health Records. These domains contain 58 competencies. GPAs need to be able to build a portfolio of evidence which demonstrates they have the required skills, knowledge and behaviours to fulfil the role and promote clinical thinking and reflection.

A GPA will need clinical supervision and observation undertaking tasks. A GP will need to sign off evidence to the GPA portfolio to confirm that the GPA meets the competency requirements.

They are expected to be able to deliver a combination of administrational and basic clinical duties:

• Arrange appointments, referrals and tests for patients.
• Complete simple observations/investigations as directed, e.g. urinalysis, taking blood pressure, ECGs, Phlebotomy.
• Prepare patients prior to seeing GP – taking a brief history and undertaking basic observations.
• Complete core elements of forms for GPs to approve e.g. clinical investigation requests, insurance forms, benefits applications.
• Explain treatment procedures to patients.
• Help GPs liaise with outside agencies, e.g. contacting and waiting for on-call secondary care doctor for advice/admission to enable the GP to continue seeing patients.
• Sort clinical post and prioritise for the GP – signpost post as required to other members of staff.
• Extract information from clinical letters that needs coding and add this into patient notes. Support with QOF coding.