AddressPrinciple Duties and Responsibilities: The post-holder will provide general medical services managing a caseload and deal with a wide range of health needs in the SDUC setting, ensuring the highest standards of care for all registered and temporary patients living within the boundary of South Somerset West Primary Care Network (SSW PCN). The GP Urgent Assessment Service (GPUAS) will provide bookable appointments within the team base, as well as urgent home visits for those too unwell or infirmed to attend. The post holder will work with the multi-disciplinary team to ensure that patients are treated by the most appropriate healthcare worker within the most appropriate clinical setting to meet their holistic needs. This may include a mixture of on- and off-site consultations, telephone, digital and video consultations.
Additionally, the post holder will be required to undertake aspects of clinical administration including, but not confined to; laboratory results, tasks, radiology results, and hospital communications, issuing and signing prescriptions, and dealing with administration queries, paperwork and correspondence in a timely fashion. Make professionally autonomous decisions in relation to presenting problems, whether self-referred or referred internally within the Service. Record clinical information in the GPUAS Service computerised clinical software systems. Receive patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed problems and make assessment of their health care needs.
Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background, disability and preferred ways of communicating. Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to limit their impact. Maintain effective communication within the service environment, including other team members and external stakeholders. Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults and be aware of local guidance for the management of vulnerable people.
Manage patients with chronic disease or complex problems, and palliative/terminal care needs. Screen patients for disease risk factors and early signs of illness. Develop care plans for health in consultation with patients and in line with latest clinical evidence, local and national protocols. Provide clinical counselling and health education.
Actively support the attainment of QOF and IIF targets, as well as any locally agreed KPIs or service targets. Prescribe in accordance with the NHS Somerset prescribing formulary whenever this is clinically appropriate. Admit or discharge patients to and from caseload and refer them to other care providers internally or externally as appropriate. Comply with relevant Service policy/guidelines, e.g., Child Protection, confidentially issues etc.
Be committed to lifelong learning, audit and evidence based best practice, supported by designated CPD internal and external sessions. Attend GPUAS Service meetings. Where meetings are regularly held outside of working hours, time to attend meetings with either be paid as additional hours or may be taken as time in lieu. Attend external meetings where relevant, including Clinical Forum meetings organised by Symphony Healthcare Services.
Act as a consultant and supervisor to, and monitor consultations carried out by, other members of the MDT (e.g., ANPs, ECPs, PAs, Pharmacists); check notes and discuss with staff any areas of concern and be available at all times (when at work) to support the MDT workforce. Work with the Clinical Director and Clinical Lead to support provision of training, education and supervision sessions for other staff and trainees. Provide support and where appropriate, leadership of clinical research and audit programmes, supporting service quality improvement.
