Recruitment for GP support

(accompanied children under 16 go free)

AUGUST 18 & 19 2018

More than 200 additional healthcare professionals will be recruited across NHS Forth Valley over the next three years to support GP practices.

Part of the new national GP contract, they include pharmacists, advanced nurse practitioners, mental health workers and physiotherapists.

NHS Forth Valley’s associated medical director Dr Stuart Cumming said:“A lot of work has gone into developing these plans as we need to increase capacity to respond to the ever-increasing demand for healthcare in our communities.

“It’s important to acknowledge the hugely valuable work that our GPs do but also to recognise that many health issues can be managed using the skills of other professionals working alongside our existing practice teams.

“Developing larger and more diverse teams we help provide the best possible care for local patients and I’m pleased that the initial response to our recruitment drive has been very encouraging.”

The recruitment plans are highlighted in NHS Forth Valley’s new three Primary Care Improvement Plan which focuses on the development of broader professional teams to respond to increased demands within primary care services, address challenges in recruiting GPs and meet the priorities set out in the new GP contract.

Priorities include the development of services that will see pharmacists working directly with GP practices to manage medicines and prescriptions.

Nurse-led treatment room services will be expanded and additional staff will be recruited to support the delivery of more urgent care in the community and provide additional support to care home residents.

Immunisation work currently carried out by GPs and their staff being provided by specialist teams like travel vaccines, childhood immunisation and flu.

There are also plans to introduce additional mental health nurses to provide support for patients with mild to moderate mental health problems.