HEALTH MATTERS WITH DR HANNA ROBBINS

If you’ve been to your GP Surgery recently, you may have noticed that the team has grown. You may be offered an appointment with a health care professional who is not a GP, such as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP), pharmacist, or physiotherapist. This helps us to help you reach the best person first time, and our GPs learn new skills from this wider team. This week Kathryn Wilcock, one of our ANPs, talks about her role at the Surgery. Over to Kathryn:

The advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) at Long Lane surgery is a busy but rewarding role. I have been at the surgery for 3 years. Before moving to Long Lane I worked in A&E (accident and Emergency) as an ANP whilst completing my Masters in Advanced Practice and as a nurse for many years prior to this.

I see patients of all ages with new and longstanding illnesses. My particular interest is women’s health and contraception. I am able to prescribe medication, request tests and refer on to hospital. A team of GPs can offer advice on a daily basis if needed.

Since COVID 19, the role has changed. A typical day starts early to check results of tests I have ordered and deal with any paperwork. This is followed by telephone or face to face appointments for those patients who need it. Telephone appointments started due to Covid 19, to keep patients safe at home. Often patients prefer this, and we can do video calls with patients who have a smartphone. The afternoon involves being on call for the surgery - for example, answering any queries from the district nursing team or social services, any emergency patient calls, and supporting the nursing team at the surgery. I love the variety of the role and working as part of the team at Long Lane surgery.