We have a new member of staff joining the team she will start on 2nd January. She will be working all day Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and Thursday mornings, her name is Paula Pengelly
As a nurse practitioner/prescriber she can do most of the things that our doctors can do
Do I need to see a GP or the Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse Practitioners are all trained specialist nurses who have undertaken additional education in order to provide advanced nursing care. They can provide treatment and advice for many problems for which you may have seen a Doctor for in the past. Their main areas of expertise are in the management of common illnesses and long term conditions. The Nurse Practitioner can assess and examine you, make a diagnosis and provide advice, organise blood tests or x-rays if appropriate, and treatment including a prescription if required. She can make referrals to hospital doctors or other health care professionals, and admit patients into hospital when necessary. Unfortunately they are unable legally to sign a “Fit Note” for work, but if she feels you require one she can arrange this with the oncall GP. The Nurse Practitioner works closely with your GP and will liaise frequently with them about your care.
Same Day Appointments
She can see you on the day for the following -
wounds scalds burns
acute back pain joint sprains shingles rashes
chest infection thrush headache diarrhoea
urinary tract infections constipation haemorrhoids vomiting
swollen glands cystitis tonsillitis earache
flu-like illnesses cough sinusitis
raised temperature sore throat
Routine Appointments
Newly diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Diabetic Reviews
New Hypertension diagnosis Asthma/COPD reviews
Spirometry results Smoking cessation (including prescribing)
New Asthma/COPD diagnosis
What she CANNOT deal with
Problems associated with pregnancy
Mental health issues
Children under 5 years old