Two new roles – GP assistants and digital transformation leads – will be added to the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS) next month.
This forms part of the Government’s wide-ranging plan to improve patient access.
The plan said the Government would be ‘freeing up funding rules’ to widen the types of staff that work in general practice, adding that it expected this would ‘increase the number of appointments for patients by over one million’.
A press release ahead of the plan’s publication had suggested advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) would also be added to the ARRS. However, the Department of Health and Social Care said just two new roles would be added from October, with ANPs to be added at an unspecified later date.
The exact job descriptions for GP assistants and digital transformation leads remain unclear.
According to Health Education England’s website, GP assistants are intended to provide a support role, specifically aimed at reducing the administrative burden, and in some areas assisting basic clinical duties.
NHS Confederation director of primary care Ruth Rankine said: ‘Healthcare leaders are awaiting the detail behind the Secretary of State’s statement and it is still unclear where the additional funding will come from.
‘Current funding for ARRS has not been uplifted to reflect the recent pay awards, so whilst the pay limits may change the total ARRS funding pot has not.’
Ms Rankine added that the health secretary’s promised additional support is welcome, but that the plan lacks detail.
She said: ‘We welcome all additional support for primary care, including community pharmacies, to help manage the current pressures. However, as yet, there is insufficient detail to truly assess the impact this will have this winter.
‘What we do know is that it takes time to recruit and train for new workforce roles, therefore chances of this coming in time to make much difference are minimal.’
The new plan also reiterated an intention to expand the number of mental health practitioners (MHPs) in primary care.
Updates made earlier this year to the 2022/23 Network DES ensured that PCNs would be able to deploy twice as many adult mental health practitioners, with the approval of their provider.
A version of this story was first published on our sister title Pulse.
