NHS highlights range of services available from GP practices

Thousands more healthcare staff working in local communities are providing expanded support for patients.

Since 2019, more than 31,000 additional staff have been recruited into healthcare roles at GP practices around the country.

Beginning on Friday 20 October, the NHS has been raising awareness of the support available from community health teams, including pharmacists, mental health practitioners, paramedics, physios, and social prescribers.

The announcement comes as recent data shows that one in five GP appointments are for non-medical reasons such as loneliness or seeking advice on housing or debts.

Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, national director for primary care and community services, at NHS England said: “Record numbers of people are seeking support from their GP practice, with teams treating half a million more patients a week compared to before the pandemic, and this demand is only going to increase with an ageing population so the NHS must adapt its services to match this need.

“While people will always be able to see their family doctor when they need to, the NHS is giving people more options with more than 31,000 new staff working in General Practice since 2019 meaning patients can get specialist support from mental health professionals, physios, and pharmacists without needing to see a GP first.

“The health service is also making it as easy as possible for people to contact their GP with 32 million people accessing the NHS app to book appointments or receive test results, so if you need support please come forward for care.”

Health minister Neil O’Brien said: “For most of us, general practice is our front door to the NHS and this is why we’re expanding the support on offer to patients.

“There’s now an extra 31,000 professionals – such as dieticians, paramedics and physiotherapists – working as part of GP teams and providing vital care to patients, or supporting doctors and nurses to do so.

“GPs delivered about 15% more appointments over the last year compared to pre-pandemic, and that’s the result not just of more staff, but the hard work of teams in general practice.”