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Care Navigation
What is Care Navigation?
Care navigation allows front line staff to inform patients of local health and wellbeing services and signpost to patients to the right service for their issue.
There are a many services both within and outside of primary care that can deal with a wide range of medical or social problems in a safe, effective way. This means that patients will find it easier to get a GP appointment when they need one.
What is a Care Navigator?
General practice receptionists and admin staff have been given specialist training to help signpost patients to the right health professional or service at that first point of contact. The role of a GP receptionist has changed massively and to reflect this change, they are now referred to as ‘Care Navigators’.
Why does the receptionist ask me questions about my problem?
When you contact the practice, the trained Care Navigator that you speak to may ask details about your issue so they can triage your problem and signpost you to the right health professional. This is so patients will receive:
- the most appropriate medical care
- from the most appropriate health professional or service
- at the most appropriate time
Care Navigators will ask questions about your health to:
- help doctors prioritise urgent appointments
- provide quicker medical attention by signposting to other health professionals
- to ensure that all patients receive the right level of care
Care Navigators are trained to triage and signpost patients, but we are not here to give clinical advice. We are bound by confidentiality rules and respect your right to privacy.
