What is Primary Care?
National Health Service (NHS) care is provided in two main ways: primary care (GPs and community services) and secondary care (hospitals and specialists).
Primary care is the day-to-day healthcare available in every local area and the first place people go when they need health advice or treatment. It’s the first stop for symptoms that are new or for concerns about physical or mental health.
What services does Primary Care include?
- GPs (General Practitioners) – The family or local doctor
- Chemists (Pharmacies)
- Community and Practice Nurses
- Community midwives and health visitors
- Family planning or sexual health clinics
- Out of hours GP services
- Dentists
- Opticians
- Hearing care providers
What do Primary Care health professionals do?
Primary care professionals – such as GPs, practice nurses or pharmacists – help take care of the basics of care, focusing on preventing illness, making diagnoses (working out what the problem is), and treating conditions that don’t need hospital care. They also look after pregnant women (antenatal care).
Roles in Primary Care
- Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP)
- Apprenticeships
- Assistant Practitioner
- Care Navigator
- Clinical Pharmacist
- General Practitioner (GP)
- General Practice Nurse (GPN)
- GP Assistant (GPA)
- GP Trainees
- Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW or HCA)
- IT Technician
- Medical Secretary
- NHS Graduate Scheme
- NHS Staff Bank
- Non-Medical Prescriber
- Nursing Associate
- Nurse Practitioner
- Pharmacy/Dispensing Assistant
- Phlebotomist
- Physician Associate
- Preceptorships
- Practice Manager
- Receptionist
- Social Prescriber
Useful Links
- NHS Graduate Scheme (further Information)