Things You Never Knew Your GP Could Do

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 

1. Emergency medical treatment 
2. House calls 
3. 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