From our A&Es to our Gynaecology team and Ambulatory Care department – advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) are playing a key role across our hospitals.

ACPs are healthcare professionals educated to Masters level who have the skills and knowledge to take on expanded roles in caring for patients – and have helped support our A&E team during recent strikes, including the longest in NHS history earlier this month.

Theresa Barron (above), a senior ACP at our Trust who is based in A&E, explained: “A large part of our work is clinical. This involves patient assessment, history taking, ordering and interpreting tests, undertaking procedures and arranging a plan for the patient. We also independently prescribe and lead on aspects of service improvement as well as being involved in teaching and research.”

Helen Keeling (above), an ACP based in our Ambulatory Care department, added: “We worked with our consultant colleagues during the strikes. We were doing all areas of patient care – it was very challenging, especially as we respect our doctor colleagues and want to support them.

“This role was really important during the strike. We’re a team, we respect all roles and a good multidisciplinary team gives better outcomes and experience for patients.”

While the role initially started as an advanced nursing post, it has expanded to include lots of other professions including paramedics, therapists and pharmacists.

They allow us to offer a more varied and experienced multidisciplinary team, which has been especially important during recent industrial action. It’s also a great way for our staff to enhance their careers.

This has been especially true for Theresa and Helen, both nurses by background.

Theresa, who decided to become a nurse after meeting some nurses while teaching children to windsurf at a summer camp in America, added: “I was a senior sister in A&E for 10 years and felt I could do more. I enjoyed the role, but I wanted to work directly with patients; that’s why I came into nursing.

“Patient care is what I’m best at and enjoy most. Becoming an ACP is a way to develop your skills and become a senior member of the team while still being directly involved in patient care. I love my role, being able to improve quality of care and lead the way with advanced practice.

“My nursing background means I value compassionate care and advanced clinical practice allows me to continue doing that while taking it to a different level when assessing and diagnosing patients.”

Helen joined our Trust as a healthcare support worker in 2001, after finding a love of caring for others when looking after her grandfather.

She said: “I’m not a whizz kid - I had two O-levels, so if I can do it, anyone can do it. When I joined the Trust I listened to the doctors during ward rounds, I found it really interesting and wanted to know how things worked. A manager noticed I was interested in doing more and encouraged me to do an ACP course.

“I studied at London South Bank and even became the face of the course on posters to promote it, as well as being asked to go back and teach. I teach ACPs at our Trust and am an examiner at the university.”

To keep their skills up to date, ACPs complete on-going training. The role has continued to advance over the years and now includes prescribing medicines. Their specialist knowledge also helps with discharging patients who are ready to go home, freeing up beds for others in need.

Helen added: “The role is dynamic – we can be picked up and dropped anywhere – and it’s really interesting and versatile.”

Find out more about the ACP role.