Health Education England (HEE) along with its multi-disciplinary partners define Advanced Practice as follows:
“Advanced practice is delivered by experienced, registered health and care practitioners. It is a level of practice characterised by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making. This is underpinned by a master’s level award or equivalent that encompasses the four pillars of clinical practice: leadership, management, education, and research, with a demonstration of core capabilities and area-specific clinical competence.” (Source: HEE)
In short, The Advanced Practitioner can:
- Assess, examine, and provide treatment for you
- make and manage a both acute and chronic diagnoses
- prescribe and review medication
- request and review test results
- make referrals to hospital doctors or other health care professionals
- admit patients into hospital when necessary.
To be an Advanced Practitioner a person must hold a master’s degree or have 3 years post-registration experience to be working in the role and are therefore able to work at the same level as a middle grade doctor.
Advanced Practitioners allow us to enhance the capacity and capability of our team and provide an essential clinical service to patients.
