The ACP-GP relationship.

Abstract

The advanced clinical practitioner (ACP) role has been somewhat controversial since its initial inception, with a delightful array of fairly derogatory opinions aired and nicknames used, my personal favourite being ‘noctor’ — not a doctor. I entirely understand how and why this has happened. GPs spend a decade training to do an incredibly complex job, and many of them also have to be able to run a business with dwindling financial support and ever more hoops to jump through to get whatever money is available, while frequently feeling condescended to by hospital consultants who expect them to act as a house officer or a medical secretary. Then the Department of Health appears to announce that a load of paramedics, nurses, physiotherapists, and pharmacists will be trained in 2 or 3 years to do their job for a fraction of the cost. I’d be pretty miffed too! But ACPs are not here to do a GP’s job, we are not a …