We believe in working together with our patients. This can only work when there is a mutual respect.
General Practice has changed beyond recognition in the last decade. This is due to many factors. Our communities are growing and people are living longer due to medical advancements in the UK. This therefore carries a greater demand on our local GP surgeries and other Primary Care Services.
To keep up with the greater demand on community services, general practice has had to reevaluate how best to deliver care to its patients.
This now means that there are more ways to get the best and most appropriate advice or treatment.
When you call the surgery, the team answering your call has been trained in Care Navigation. This means they will ask you a series of questions about your needs. The answers you give will determine where the team direct you to for the quickest and most appropriate help,
For example, you may have developed joint or muscle pain. Based on the details you give it may mean that you see a physiotherapist or musculoskeletal practitioner in the first instance rather than a GP. The MSK team can investigate, diagnose, treat and refer for all musculoskeletal issues.
The surgery also has an Acute Medical Team who is able to see minor ailments. The Acute Medical Team is made up of an Advanced Medical Practitioner and paramedic trained Urgent Care Practitioner who can see issues that need urgent assessment. Such ailments include acutely unwell children, common infections (ear, throat, chest) sudden exacerbation of an existing condition that affects daily life or sudden onset of unexpected illness. Appointments with the AMT are opened each morning and are used for patients who are unable to wait up to 2 weeks for assessment.
Where is my GP?
The GPs are in surgery daily. They triage, assess, review, diagnose, treat and monitor all elements of patient care.
In 2024 and beyond, the role of the GP has changed from its role in 1994, 1974 and 1954. Rather than see each and every patient that contacts the surgery with an illness as they would have in 1974, the GP now has to divide their time across many other work streams.
GPs continue to oversee patients with complex or longstanding conditions. They receive and interpret all test results coming back into the surgery. View and assess all incoming documentation about patients from secondary care and other medical services. Refer patients needing specialist care. Oversee the AMT to ensure all patients are treated appropriately. Check and process up to 200 repeat prescription requests per day.
The GPs also attend meetings within their Primary Care Network, a collaboration of 11 local surgeries working together as one team. The aim of collaborative working with other surgeries is to extend the range and availability of appointments and specialists for patients living in the Cannock Villages area.
But I want to see a GP
If a patient is unwell enough to require urgent assessment, an appointment is more likely to be with the Acute Medical Team or referral to another care provider such as Pharmacy first who can help with minor ailments quickly.
All patients have access to the GPs at their surgery but it may mean waiting for their next available appointment. This could be up to 2-3 weeks away.
It may seem complex and evoke frustration when you call the surgery but please remember, the team are only trying to get you the best outcome as quickly as possible.
Working Together
We understand that life’s stresses and strains can cause us all to be anxious and angry, but by working together, with a mutual respect and understanding, we can achieve the very best service for you.