If you think that General Practitioners (GP) or Family Physicians (FP) can only treat cough, headache, flu, stomachaches and provide you with a specialist referral letter when you need one, you should read on as they do more than that.
What Can My GP / FP Do?
The World Health Organisation recognises Family Medicine as a discipline that provides personalised (patient-centred), primary, prevention, comprehensive, coordinated and continual care to people of all ages (from cradle to grave).
GPs / FPs with the necessary qualifcations and training can provide patients with the following services.
Disease Prevention
- Health screening
- Health promotion
- Childhood vaccination
- Adult vaccination
- Travel vaccinations
- Advisory on travel medicine
- Family planning and birth control advisory
Chronic Problems: Chronic disease management such as:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Hyperlipidemia
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive lung disease
- Chronic kidney diseases
- Benign prostatic hypertrophy
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Mental health issues – anxiety, depression, etc
- Epilepsy
- Dementia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Psoriasis
Acute / Emergency
- Emergency medical treatment
- House calls
- Minor offce-based surgeries such as:
- Ear syringing
- Suturing of wounds / lacerations
- Drainage of abscess
- Wound debridement
- Excision of lumps and bumps
- Excision of ingrown toe nails
- Cryotherapy for warts
- Intra-articular (joint) injections
- Cauterisation
4. Orthopaedic and sports injury management such as:
- Reduction of fracture
- Splinting and casting
Behavioural Modification
- Smoking cessation programme
- Weight management programme
- Exercise prescription
