General Practices, also known as GP surgeries or clinics, are usually the first point of contact for people seeking medical help and guidance, offering 10–15-minute consultations and a range of essential, additional and enhanced healthcare services.

General Practices are community-orientated, providing ‘patient-focused’ services which strengthen ‘continuity of care,’ including management of both acute and chronic health conditions, medication prescription, medical record keeping, and onward referral to specialists, hospitals, and other secondary care and community healthcare providers.

The General Practice workforce contributes enormously to health education and preventative health care, and GP services help to reduce the overall demand for hospital care and resources. With technological advances, government funding, and the ongoing need for comprehensive primary healthcare in the community, the GP sector in the UK will continue to grow and respond, offering rewarding professions and career development opportunities.

Nurses (primary healthcare), also referred to as Practice Nurses, work in General Practices, community clinics, hospitals and other primary care settings. They work with people of all ages providing integrated nursing care across a range of primary healthcare needs. They provide education and counselling, immunisations, wound care, sexual health consults, cervical cancer screenings, blood and urine testing, assistance with long-term management of chronic illness, acute and emergency care, and infection control, among other nursing services. They work in multi-disciplinary teams with GPs and other medical and allied health practitioners. They may also provide an outreach or home-visiting service. To pursue a career in general practice and primary health, Nurses need to be registered with the NMC. There are roles available for different levels of nursing, including specialised Nurse practitioners. Click here (insert link: ) for more information on becoming a nurse and nursing careers.