I’m a GPA (general practice assistant) AMA

[rainbowslate]

Quite a new role to GP surgeries . Ask away!

What is a GPA?

Is it a clinical role?

What does your job involve? What qualifications do you need? Do you need professional registration to do your job?

What is your education?
What do yo do at work?

How much do you get paid?

No qualifications needed, though I do have experience in healthcare already.
you can do a GPA course, though I didn’t as already had experience clinically and working in a GP setting.
I support the GPs by doing some of their admin work and also support them in a clinical role.
I do bloods, ECGs, vaccines, stop smoking service, spirometry. I do obs for patients if required before they see the GP.

it’s a nice, varied role!

I don’t need professional registration

Weird you don't need any health care education tbh.

I'm presuming if you say you " do bloods and vaccines" you mean take blood and give vaccines. If so, have you had training in the use of needles?
Similarly, whilst giving advise for smokers, spirometry, taking obs and taking an ECG are fairly straightforward, I think I would want someone with specific qualifications to interpret and diagnose from the ECG tracing. Is that the case?

I have done a phlebotomy course, I have done a course on each vaccine I give and have annual updates.
I have done a spirometry course.

ECG I learned how to do from a senior colleague. I do not read or interpret these, the GP does that part.

For smoking cessation I have done a course on this and have updates usually annually.

Sounds very much like a HCA in a hospital

What’s the difference between yours and the HCA role? We have a HCA who does all this.

You’re a HCA using a different title!

This sounds a really interesting role. Where could I find out more about it?

Am thinking about taking a redundancy but don't necessarily want to stay in my profession.

Something hands on and tangible outcomes would be great.

Do you enjoy it? Is the pay atrocious?

So you have many qualifications to do it then? Not none if you’ve had to do all of these courses.

@FrannieisnthappyNHS wages are public information you can find online. General Practice Assistants (GPAs) in the NHS typically earn between £24,000 and £26,000 per year, with hourly rates reported around £12.78.

These courses are day courses and will all be done under delegation from senior colleagues who are clinically and legally responsible overall. This is a HCA role in primary care. I know this because it used to be my role.
It’s a bit like we now call receptionists ‘care navigators’. It’s the same role.

Why can't I get a GP appointment?

The title GPA is so misleading, do many people assume you are a GP?

So you're an HCA.

Your job title is just different.

At the surgery I work at we have both GPA and HCA roles. But our GPA wouldn’t do the bloods, echo etc. the GPA where I am basically helps out where’s she’s needed. So perhaps reception, referrals, workflow admin, assisting dispensary (obviously nothing that requires the qualification), care coordinator tasks.
Do you also have HCAs at your practice or do you cover both roles?

But surely GP surgeries aren’t in the NHS?

@HoppityBun but they do tend to follow the national pay scales. They are actually more tied to the NHS than people think. We have contracts with the health board and they tell us what services we have to provide and then can pay us more(a pittance ) to provide extra services. They then send rude emails on Christmas and New year's eve telling us we can't shut before 6pm(Scotland) as we will be in breach of contract and the sky will fall in. Shame they don't stay open until 6pm to support any of our problems.