Job summary
General Practice Assistants (GPAs) form part of a multi-disciplinary team within primary care, and provide a support role, carrying out administrative tasks, combined in some areas with basic clinical duties, helping to free up GPs time and contribute to the smooth running of appointments, improving patients experience in the surgery

Main duties of the job
Improving patient access and releasing highly qualified staff to concentrate on treating and managing patients with more complex conditions
Improving patient flow within surgery hours, increasing the time efficiency of appointments, and reduction of waiting times; supporting patient experience by translating or reiterating information from the GP
Have a positive impact on retention and job satisfaction
Reduce time spent by GPs on managing correspondence

About us
Essex Lodge Surgery is an expanding PMS and teaching practice serving approximately 17,000+ patients in London Borough of Newham with 2 GP Partners, 5 Salaried GPs, 2 regular locum GPs, 1 GP Registrar, , 1 Nurse Prescriber, 3 Practice Nurses, and 1 nurse associate (NA), 2 Clinical Pharmacists, 1 Prescribing Pharmacist, 1 physiotherapist and a friendly admin and managerial team. Practice is located in Plaistow, London (E13 0AS) less than 10 minutes walk from Plaistow underground station.

Details
Date posted: 07 July 2026
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: Depending on experience
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: A5290-25-0005
Job locations: 94 Greengate Street, London, E13 0AS, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
The appointees will form a close working relationship with the practice or services where they are providing primary care services. Work with practice teams support acute and long-term medical conditions management, the achievement of prescribing outcomes for Quality Outcomes Framework ; Directed Enhanced Services ; Local Incentive Schemes and Prescribing Incentive Schemes .

A high degree of flexibility will be required, along with willingness to adapt to fluctuations in practice workload and be adaptable to the day to day demands of a busy general practice or urgent care workload.

Clinical responsibilities:

• A good standard of patient medical care
• In accordance with the practice timetable, as agreed, the post-holder will make him/her-self available to undertake a variety of duties including GP surgery consultations and emergencies, telephone / Video / Online consultations and queries, triaging, visiting patients at home, checking and signing repeat prescriptions and dealing with queries, patient test results, patient medical reports and examinations (e.g. Insurance Companies) on behalf of the Practice, referral letters NHS or private, paperwork and correspondence in a timely manner
• Making professional, autonomous decisions in relation to presenting problems, whether self-referred or referred from other health care workers within the organisation
• Recording clear and contemporaneous I.T. based consultation notes to agreed standards
• Collecting data for audit purposes
• Compiling and issuing computer-generated acute and repeat prescriptions
• Prescribing in accordance with locally agreed or national guidelines.
• In general the post-holder will be expected to undertake all the normal duties and responsibilities associated with a GP working within primary care.
• Take part in the duty doctor rota
• To do home visits
• From time to time there may be extra duties or responsibilities that may be required of the post-holder. These will be agreed with the Clinical lead, and there will be an expectation that new duties or responsibilities may be part of the role, but that they will be appropriate to the knowledge, skills and experience of the employed GP.

Other responsibilities with the Practice:

• Awareness of and compliance with all relevant practice policies/guidelines, e.g. prescribing, confidentiality, data protection, health and safety, annual QOF Assessment of the Practice.
• A commitment to life-long learning and audit to ensure evidence-based best practice;
• A commitment (when seeing patients) to helping the practice promote safe, high quality care.
• Maintain reaccreditation portfolio and undertake annual appraisal.
• Contributing to evaluation or audit and clinical standard setting within the organisation;
• Attending training, Practice Meetings and events organised by the practice or other agencies, where appropriate.
• Responsibility for completing Medical Reports / requests for patient information.
• To be professional at all times and maintain a formal dress code.
• To maintain a good working relationship with staff, doctors and patients and contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance and service expansion

Team working

• Understand own role and scope, and identify how this may develop over time
• Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working
• Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessing competence
• Ensure clear referral mechanisms are in place to meet patient need, if required
• Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within the culture of the team
• Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery
• Participate in team activities that create opportunities to improve patient care
• Participate in and support local projects as agreed with the practice management team

Utilising information

• Use technology as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring, presenting and communicating information
• Review and process data using accurate SNOMED codes to ensure easy and accurate retrieval for monitoring and audit processes
• Manage information searches using the internet and local library databases, for example, the retrieval of relevant information for patients on their condition
• Understand the responsibility of self and others regarding the Freedom of Information Act
• Collate, analyse and present clinical data and information to the team using appropriate charts and/or graphs to enhance care

Record keeping and administration

• Make accurate and contemporaneous records of all patient encounters in accordance with practice records protocols and coding protocols
• Accurately label and document patient samples and submit for collection and analysis.
• Maintain skills in using patient appointment system
• Record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion using manual or computer systems as appropriate
• Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information
• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality

Service improvement:

• Be aware of and, if appropriate, assist in current clinical audit
• Work with colleagues in the team on the development of current and new services and other initiatives
• Deal with requests from patients and clinical staff for health information leaflets

Confidentiality:
In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately

In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their careers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Health & Safety:
The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
• Engaging with and contributing to issues/processes involving Health & Safety in the workplace
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
• Safe management of sharps procedures including training, use, storage and disposal
• Reporting potential risks identified.
• Work safely at all times in accordance with Legislative requirements and Practice Policy and Procedures
• Identifying and reporting hazards/risks and contributing to control measures.
• Adhering to all relevant policies including infection control, cold chain
• Contributing to keeping the working area and patient areas tidy and free from hazards.
• Using protective equipment and clothing provided and in accordance with the practices policy.
• Handling specimens and clinical waste/sharps in accordance with practice policy.
• Applying correctly spill control and decontamination policies
• Ensuring sufficient supplies of all cleansing and infection control materials.
• Attending regular health and safety training.

Equality and Diversity:
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

• Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
• Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Flexibility:
This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive description of every duty performed by the post holder, but rather a guide to the type and nature of the duties. In Essex Lodge Surgery, flexibility in the duties undertaken and the hours worked are essential to achieve the objectives of a smooth running practice.

The post holder is required to carry out any duties that fall within the scope of this role, that may reasonably be requested by the Partners or the Practice Manager and that relate to the efficiency and smooth running of the Practice.

The post-holder may, from time to time, be asked to undertake other reasonable duties, with appropriate training. It is important that all members of staff are prepared to undertake additional or relinquish current duties to maintain service delivery to patients. It is expected that requests from the Partners/Management Team will not be unreasonably refused.

This job description is not exhaustive and may be adjusted periodically after review and consultation. You will also be expected to carry out any reasonable duties which may be requested from time-to-time.

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Experience of working with the general public
• Experience of administrative duties
• Experience of working in a healthcare setting
• Knowledge of EMIS web clinical system

Desirable

• Knowledge of databases
• Customer Service Training or formal reception training

Qualifications
Essential

• Eligible to work in General Practice as a GP
• Willing to successfully complete appropriate training for appraisal and remain up to date with the developing GP Appraisal, relicensing and GMC revalidation
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Understanding of the pressures faced by GPs and healthcare teams
• Current registration with the GMC and appropriate representation with a recognised medical defence organisation
• Strong levels of IT proficiency and familiarity with primary care clinical systems (EMIS WEB). Experience in using the Microsoft suite of programmes
• Proven ability to handle a busy and varied primary care case load
• A good understanding of Primary Care contracting requirements
• Understanding of QOF, local and national incentive schemes, prescribing or other initiatives are acted on as required
• Ability to drive and use of a vehicle to carry out home visits
• Able to take a consultative approach to their work, appropriately involving relevant people
• Able to put the needs of the team ahead of individual needs at busy times, periods of increased workloads ,QOF assessment, flu campaigns, sickness absences or unplanned leave etc.
• Flexibility to adapt to different organisational settings
• Organised and efficient in record keeping.

Desirable

• GP with specialist interest
• Willingness to contribute to and participate in a peer support group
• Proven ability to offer support within a clinical team and share learning points in practice meetings
• Competent EMIS Web user

Educator
Essential

• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance and service expansion
• To prepare and participate in CQC visit

Desirable

• Excellent communication skills including verbal, written, face to face and active listening skills.
• Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

IT Skills
Essential

• The practice has been a GP training and teaching practice since 1985, having two GP trainers and GP registrars. The practice provides training to physician associate (PA) and medical students from the Queen Mary University of London and also medical students from Kings College London. Training and development are therefore an important part of the practices ethos.

Desirable

• The practice is well advanced in terms of computerisation and fully computerised. The clinical IT system is EMIS Web. It has adopted new AI software such as EMMA and ANIMA

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details
Employer name: Essex Lodge Surgery
Address: 94 Greengate Street, London, E13 0AS, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.essexlodge.com/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Practice Manager
Shima Haque
shima.haque@nhs.net