General Practice Assistants

Overview

General Practice Assistants (GPAs) are integral members of a multi‑disciplinary primary care team. They provide a blend of administrative support and basic clinical duties to free up GPs, streamline appointment flow, and enhance patient experience. Responsibilities include both routine GP consults and a wide range of administrative, clinical, and team‑support tasks.

Key Responsibilities

• Support GP surgery consultations, emergencies, telephone, video, and online consultations.
• Triage patient requests, perform home visits, and manage repeat and acute prescriptions.
• Screen, record, and sign repeat prescriptions and handle patient queries for test results and medical reports.
• Maintain professional, autonomous clinical decisions for self‑referred or referred patients.
• Document consultations with clear, contemporaneous IT‑based notes to agreed standards.
• Collect and compile data for audit purposes, and produce computer‑generated acute and repeat prescriptions.
• Prescribe in accordance with local or national guidelines and maintain proficiency with EMIS Web clinical system.
• Participate in duty doctor rota, duty‑specific training, and additional responsibilities as agreed with the Clinical Lead.

Other Responsibilities with the Practice

• Ensure compliance with all relevant practice policies: prescribing, confidentiality, data protection, health and safety.
• Conduct annual QOF assessments and contribute to quality improvement initiatives.
• Maintain reaccreditation portfolio and undertake annual appraisal.
• Attend training sessions, practice meetings, and other events as required.
• Complete medical reports, requests for patient information, and support safe, high‑quality care.
• Maintain professional dress code and strong working relationships with staff, doctors, and patients.
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on activities and suggesting improvements.

Professional Development and Teamworking

• Understand and perform within the defined scope, adapting to new duties appropriate to knowledge, skills, and experience.
• Act as an effective, responsible team member, supporting others and exploring new ways of working.
• Prioritise workload, apply safe‑practice principles, and ensure clear referral mechanisms.
• Use technology to manage planning, implementation, monitoring, and data presentation.
• Maintain accurate records in line with coding protocols and retain confidentiality of patient information.

Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity

• Promote health, safety and security in accordance with practice policy, including infection control and sharps management.
• Support equality, diversity, and rights of patients, carers, and colleagues by treating everyone with respect and dignity.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Current registration with the GMC and appropriate medical defence representation.
• Proficiency with the EMIS Web and Microsoft Office suite.
• Experience in managing a busy primary care caseload, patient administration, and primary care contracting requirements.
• Knowledge of QOF, local and national incentive schemes, and prescribing practices.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with patients and multidisciplinary teams.
• Avid learner committed to audit, appraisal, re‑licensing and GMC revalidation.
• Capability to drive and use a vehicle for home visits.
• Willingness to undertake additional duties, training, and peer‑support activities.

Location & Working Environment

The practice is located in Plaistow, London (E13 0AS), less than 10 minutes walk from Plaistow underground station. It is a teaching and training center for physicians, providing a supportive environment for professional development.

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