The nurse practitioners offer daily urgent surgeries in the morning and in the afternoon. These appointments can be booked on the day. These surgeries are for urgent minor illness for example coughs, colds, sore throats, water infections, ear pain, chest infections, skin infections, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea and vomiting, emergency contraception. These surgeries are also for minor acute musculoskeletal problems, for example, acute lower back pain, tennis elbow and the unwell child. These practitioners are also capable of assessing an acute deterioration in any chronic illness for example a chest infection in a COPD patient. They are also efficient in triaging any other illness/symptoms whose full assessment may involve a doctor. The nurse practitioners are highly trained and experienced in health assessment. They are able to assess, diagnose, refer and treat individuals with a wide range of ailments/health concerns. The community nurse practitioners work closely with the health needs of the nursing home, housebound and residential patients and their needs, and do home visits as required. They are able to prescribe independently. They have close access to the duty doctor for verbal advice or physical assessment if required. They regularly refer into other services for example, physiotherapy, audiology, and podiatry. For review of a long-term ongoing ailment the individual should book an appointment with their own doctor routinely. |