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.

Healthcare Assistants and Support Staff help practice nurses with their daily work and assist the wider general practice team. They support patients with mobility and help to keep them comfortable. They may undertake new patient checks, phlebotomy (blood tests), and measure blood pressure and temperature. They assist in keeping healthcare equipment, resources and environments safe, operational, clean and well-stocked. These roles don’t have formal entry requirements and can provide on-the-job training, professional development and career progression opportunities.