Today is Allied Health Professions (AHPs) Day, which is an annual celebration of the incredible contribution AHPs make, both in Sussex, and across the NHS and wider healthcare system.
As the third-largest group in the clinical workforce, AHPs play a vital role in supporting the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan, helping people live healthier lives and keeping our communities well.
This year’s AHPs Day theme, “The Three Shifts,” highlights how AHPs are driving positive change across health and care:
- From hospital to community – bringing care closer to where people live.
- From treatment to prevention – helping people stay well for longer.
- From analogue to digital – embracing innovation to deliver smarter, more accessible care.
We are celebrating the Allied Health Professionals who are transforming care and supporting patients in general practice. As part of our ongoing work to help people understand the range of professionals available in GP teams, we’re shining a light on the five AHP roles that make a difference every day.
First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) are often the first point of contact for patients with muscle, joint, or back problems. They provide expert assessment, diagnosis, and advice, helping people manage pain, improve movement, and recover faster. By seeing an FCP directly, patients can often avoid the need for a GP appointment or hospital referral, getting the right care sooner.
Occupational Therapists (OTs) work with people to help them maintain independence and quality of life. In primary care, they support patients with physical or mental health challenges that affect daily activities, offering practical solutions, home adaptations, and strategies to live well at home and in the community.
Podiatrists specialise in the health of the feet and lower limbs, which is essential for mobility and overall wellbeing. In general practice, they help manage conditions like diabetes-related foot issues, arthritis, and circulatory problems, reducing complications and promoting early intervention.
Dietitians use the science of nutrition to help people make informed choices about their diet and lifestyle. Within primary care, they support patients managing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and digestive disorders, and play a key role in prevention, empowering people to take charge of their health through better nutrition.
Paramedics in primary care are highly skilled clinicians who assess, diagnose, and manage a wide range of conditions, both urgent and routine. They bring their expertise in rapid assessment and decision-making to general practice, helping patients get the right care promptly and reducing pressure on emergency services.
Tim is a Paramedic at Foundry Healthcare in Lewes and helps to relieve some of the workload from his GP colleagues by seeing some more urgent on the day cases at the surgery:
“Maybe someone has fallen off their bike or has a sporting injury. Or there are things like skin rashes that may have appeared overnight.
“We also have First Contact Practitioners and Physiotherapists who are skilled in assessing and treating patients with long term musculoskeletal injuries.
“Between us, we’re able to triage and send people to the most appropriate clinician.”
Helping patients access GP services is a key priority for the NHS in Sussex. Primary care is evolving to meet the changing needs of our communities, and AHPs are a vital part of this transformation.
General practices are embracing new ways of working to provide high-quality, modern healthcare that works for you, now and in the future. A variety of healthcare professionals, including AHPs, are on hand to support your health needs. You don’t always need to see a doctor first – AHPs are often the best professionals to help you get back to feeling your best.
This AHPs Day, we celebrate the dedication, innovation, and compassion of all our Allied Health Professionals who help keep Sussex well, today and every day.
