How can medical support workers help with GP workloads?

As GP workloads continue to increase, how can medical support workers ease the load?

In 2021-22 the NHS provided £15m of national funding to trusts to support additional clinical support for the short-term recruitment of medical support workers (MSWs). 

Healthcare professionals signed up to the MSW programme are contracted to work under supervised conditions as, without General Medical Council (GMC) registration, there are limits to the responsibilities they can be given – for example, MSWs are unable to prescribe medication, or manage patients, without direct supervision. 

Now, according to the BMA, MSWs are using the experience they gain during the programme to obtain their GMC registrations and help to ease GP workloads. 

What is an MSW?

The MSW role is for medically-qualified healthcare professionals who are residents in the UK but do not have a current registration with the GMC. The basic requirements of the role include:

• A medical qualification registrable with the GMC.
• Post-graduate experience of working as a doctor for at least one year, to include three months each in both medicine and surgery.
• Proof of GMC-level proficiency in the English language. 
• Entitlement to reside and work in the UK. 

Those with visitor visas are not allowed to apply. 

Following the programme’s success, funding has been agreed to continue until the end of March 2023. The programme provides an opportunity for the NHS to invest in its future workforce, and this has been supported by the launch of the BMA’s affiliate membership programme. This programme provides healthcare professionals with a range of advice, guidance and practical support to support them in their transition to the NHS.