Your GP practice team is bigger than you might think
When you contact your local GP practice, you may not always need to see a GP.
Across Calderdale, GP practices are supported by a wider team of highly skilled healthcare professionals, each bringing their own expertise to help you get the right care and support.
These professionals are often known as Primary Care Additional Roles or ARRS roles. They work alongside GPs, practice nurses, healthcare assistants and other members of the primary care team, helping practices provide a wider range of services for local people.
At Pennine GP Alliance, we employ clinicians and healthcare professionals who work across four of Calderdale’s five Primary Care Networks (PCNs). We support them from recruitment and induction through to their ongoing development, helping them to provide care across GP practices and within local neighbourhoods
Why do we have additional roles?
Primary care is about much more than treating illness.
By bringing different healthcare professionals into local primary care teams, patients can be supported by the right person for their needs. This can help:
- Give patients access to specialist skills and expertise
- Provide more personalised care and support
- Help people manage long-term health conditions
- Support people’s physical, mental and social wellbeing
- Connect people with services and support in their local community
- Reduce pressure on GPs and other practice staff
PGPA primary care professionals – our team supporting Calderdale neighbourhoods.
Below are the roles employed by PGPA. In Calderdale, our four PCNs choose the roles that will best meet the needs of their local populations. Click each one for more information.
Where will I see them?
Our additional roles work in different settings depending on their role and the needs of local communities.
You may see them:
- At your GP practice
- In a Primary Care Network building
- In a community setting
- By telephone or virtually
The exact services available vary between Primary Care Networks and GP practices, depending on local needs.
What is the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme?
You may hear these professionals referred to as ARRS roles.
ARRS stands for Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme. It is an NHS programme that supports primary care networks to expand the range of healthcare professionals working alongside traditional general practice teams.
The aim is simple: to bring more skills and expertise into primary care, so patients can receive the right support from the right professional.
Working together to support local communities
At Pennine GP Alliance, we believe that together we are stronger.
Our additional roles are part of a wider team working across Calderdale neighbourhoods to provide high-quality, joined-up care and support for local people.
Whether you need help managing a health condition, support with your wellbeing, advice about your medicines or help connecting with services in your community, there may be a member of the wider primary care team who can help.
You may not always need to see a GP – you may just need to see the right person.
Video reference
Videos from NHS East of England and West Yorkshire ICB.