TEAMS of healthcare staff working in GP practices across mid and south Essex are supporting patients to get faster and more efficient care to meet their health needs, thanks to a boost in local primary care workforce.

NHS Mid and South Essex has increased its primary care workforce since April 2023 by 263 full-time employees, which equates to approximately 11,100 hours per week of additional staff time in practices across mid and south Essex. The majority of this additional staff time is spent seeing and supporting local patients, helping them get the care they need quicker.

The new recruits include an additional 63 GPs across the region, which equates to approximately a further 1,575 hours in doctors' surgeries across mid and south Essex per week.

There's also been an additional 167 employees recruited into multidisciplinary primary care roles, such as mental health nurses, clinical pharmacists, and first contact physiotherapists. Collectively, these multidisciplinary staff are boosting local healthcare support by an additional 6,263 hours per week, with a further 50 non-clinical roles recruited to support practice teams and free-up clinicians from administrative tasks.  

The recruitment drive is part of a wider local plan by NHS Mid and South Essex to help people get quicker access to healthcare and see the right professional for their needs.

Here is what some of these local health professionals have to say about their roles providing care in GP practices.

James Caulfield explains how the role of a Mental Health Nurse benefits patients who visit their GP practice for mental health support. He says: "Access to our service is simple and straight-forward. And most importantly, because we are local, we can be reached easily. We can signpost patients to the most suitable service, in a way that they are comfortable with. It's so important that patients feel included in choosing the pathway, especially when they might be struggling.''

Lohit, a Matron, is passionate about finding ways to give residents the care they need and reach more people quicker, freeing up GPs in the process:

"My role is varied; I act as a central point of contact, and I can help with staffing. I liaise with doctors, advanced nurse practitioners, paramedics, pharmacists, social prescribers, physios and mental health nurses. I answer questions and help build relationships between NHS staff and GP surgeries.''

Sarang, a Physiotherapist, explains why offering more expertise from local GP practices is so valuable for all involved: "Orthopaedic patients often make up 30-40% of GP appointments, with ailments such as back pain, muscular pain or similar conditions. Under new guidelines, these patients can now be booked in directly with me for diagnosis. This frees up GPs to see other patients faster, improving speed of care overall."

The increased support on offer at GP practices has benefited many patients across the region.

Peter Blackman from Essex was suffering with hip and knee issues. He received support from a first contact physiotherapist at his local GP practice and was pleased with the service.

He says: "I felt that the assessment process was really thorough. The physiotherapist listened closely to my needs. I was pleased and relieved when they were able to send me directly for an x-ray with a referral to a hospital specialist. 

"Fortunately, a diagnosis was made and the next thing I knew, I was on a waiting list for an operation. I felt reassured by the whole process and by the kindness of the NHS staff that I met along the way."

For further information about the healthcare staff working in GP practices, visit: www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/getcarequicker.