‘Super’ pharmacists and nurses are set to take the heat off busy GPs.

A number of new clinical roles have been introduced to boost the dwindling number of GPs in practices in across Castle Point, Rochford and Southend.

These include an advanced nurse practitioner, a practice nurse, practice pharmacist, advanced health practitioner and a health care assistant.

The hope is they will free-up GPs to spend more time with patients who need them most.

Clinical commissioning groups in Southend and Rochford are spearheading the new roles using new NHS England funding for 20,000 more staff to help surgeries across the country form a “primary care network”.

In Southend, 45 of the borough’s 121 GPs aged over 55 are set to retire in less three years along with 33 nurses.

In Castle Point and Rochford, 34 GPs and 14 nurses are eligible for retirement.

The new roles form part of the Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership, which is overseeing changes in healthcare.

Clinical commissioning groups have warned the stakes are high with “some of the lowest staffing levels in England, poor morale, excessive workload and difficulty recruiting the staff” reported.

A spokesman for the groups said: “It’s important we ensure patients get access to the right healthcare at the right time and a wide range of services locally.

“Sometimes this will be an appointment with a GP, but depending on your needs, seeing another healthcare professional could be more appropriate and may enable you to be seen more quickly.

“Throughout Castle Point and Rochford and Southend there are a number of roles already in place to deliver the new ways of working.”

The practice pharmacist will carry out patient medication reviews, including when patients have been in hospital. The pharmacist also runs clinics to help manage and prescribe for various long-term conditions which can include helping patients with conditions such as high blood pressure, asthma and depression.

They may also undertake some same-day minor illness clinics helping patients see a prescribing clinician sooner for various common aliments. which may include but are not limited to things such as, chest infections, ear infections and rashes.

The clinical commissioning groups have reassured patients they will be able to see a GP when they need to do so and there will be no dilution of healthcare needs.

A spokesman said: “Reception staff have been trained as a “care navigators” to enable them to support patients to ensure that their appointments are scheduled with the most appropriate clinician. Care navigators play a crucial part in helping people get the right support, at the right time, to help manage a wide range of needs. This does not prevent individuals from seeing their GP if appropriate, but to help alleviate pressure on GPs and practices and ensure patients with complex health needs or long term conditions see a GP when necessary.”

“GP retention and recruitment is an ongoing challenge for many practices nationally. NHS England is continuing to work with CCGs to invest in encouraging GPs who would otherwise leave the profession to stay in clinical general practice. The GP Retention Scheme is one such initiative, a package of financial and educational support to help doctors who might consider leaving the profession, remain in clinical general practice.”

One of the first practice pharmacists to take part in the scheme is Kamal Aggarwal, who is based at Queensway Surgery, Southend.

He said: “Bringing in my skills as a pharmacist into general practice and with further training in prescribing, mental health and minor illness, I have been able to see more patients in the practice.

“This so far has been a significant benefit for our patients as they have been able to see a prescribing clinician quicker. This role has also helped the GPs as I have been able to take over some of their workload in regards to medicine management and quality improvement. Our patients have been very supportive of this new role and I look forward to being able to further develop this role to meet the needs of our local population”.

Mr Aggarwal is currently undergoing training to become an advanced clinical practitioner.