Extended Access

To request an extended access appointment:

GP Appointments

A GP can treat common medical conditions and can prescribe, perform examinations, diagnose, refer for further care or for scans, provide health advice.

Physician Associate Appointments

A Physician Associate are healthcare professionals who work under the supervision of senior doctors. They cannot prescribe but are able to:

  • Examine patients and take medical histories 
  • Diagnose and make referrals 
  • Create a healthcare management plan 
  • Perform medical procedures 
  • Give advice on keeping healthy and promote wellbeing

Practice Nurse Appointments

During an extended access clinic our Practices Nurses can do:

  • Dressing changes / wound checks
  • Long term condition reviews, including for Asthma, COPD and Diabetes
  • Pill checks
  • Cervical Screening
  • Bloods / BP checks

Health Care Assistant Appointments

During an extended access clinic our Health Care Assistants can do:

  • Bloods
  • BP checks
  • Pill checks
  • Height, weight, BMI

Physio Service

The First Contact Physio service offers quick access to expert assessment, advice, and onward referrals as needed, typically delivered by a specialist physiotherapist. Patients can schedule appointments directly with the FCP without needing to consult a GP for MSK concerns.

Inclusion criteria: Musculoskeletal Problems

  • All soft tissue injuries, sprains, strains or sports injuries
  • Arthritis
  • Problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons or bones, e.g. tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, ankle sprains
  • Spinal problems including lower back, mid-back and neck pain
  • Spinal-related pain in arms or legs, including nerve symptoms, e.g. pins and needles or numbness
  • Post-orthopaedic surgery (may differ between localities)
  • Any acute (new/severe) or chronic (long standing) musculoskeletal issue

Exclusion criteria: Non-musculoskeletal Problems

  • Acutely unwell patients
  • Children under 16
  • Women’s health, antenatal and postnatal problems (unless you have our enhanced Women’s Health FCP service)
  • House-bound patients
  • Neurological and respiratory conditions
  • Acute mental health crises
  • Patients who do not want to see a FCP

To request a physio appointment:

Social Prescribing Team

Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their own health and wellbeing and has the potential to strengthen both community and personal resilience, as well as reducing health and wellbeing inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health.

Social prescribing can be relevant for a wide range of people. This can include patients who ring up often, but the need might not always be medical.

What We Do

  • Give people time to focus on what matters and is important to them
  • Building on ‘What Matters to Me’ co-produce a simple personalised support plan based on the persons assets, needs and preferences.
  • Connect people to local voluntary, community and social enterprise groups and agencies. We can connect people to activities, groups and practical and emotional support in a wide range of areas.

People who we support:

  •  Social issues/ social isolation
  • Finances/ debt support
  • Low level mental health
  • Carer Support
  • Bereavement
  • Domestic abuse
  • Family support
  • Housing/ Environmental issues

If you are age 16+ and would like to request a referral to the social prescribing team:

Health and Wellbeing Coaches

A Health and Wellbeing Coach takes a holistic approach; to support, educate and motivate patients to take a more active role in their own health and physical wellbeing, and make positive and confident behavioural changes. The role of the Health and Wellbeing Coach is broad and varied and includes areas such as healthy eating and physical activity, to help patients to achieve desired health objectives.

If you are age 16+ and would like to be assessed for a referral to one of our Health and Wellbeing coaches, please arrange an appointment with a clinician: