Who is a General Practitioner?
A General Practitioner (GP) is a doctor who works in a general practice clinic or medical centre. Often referred to as a family doctor, GPs have a broad range of medical knowledge on various health conditions and see people of all ages in their local community. They work closely with their clinical team, including Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Nurses, Health Improvement Practitioners (HIPs) and Health Coaches (HCs).
GPs in Aotearoa New Zealand train for a minimum of 11 years before working as an independent GP and must be registered with the Medical Council of NZ.
Services
Clinical teams at general practices look at your health from a holistic perspective (considering the whole body and environment). Common things you’d visit a general practice for:
- When you are unwell
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Minor injuries
- Immunisations
- Treatment and health advice for chronic conditions
- Lifestyle advice
The clinical team at a general practice are most often made up of GPs, nurse practitioners, nurses, healthcare assistants, health improvement practitioners and health coaches. The team may also include an Extended Care Paramedic and/or Clinical Pharmacist, but this varies by practice.
