Who is a qualified doctor? Nearly half of patients don't know what a 'physician associate' is despite NHS plans for them to deliver more care, poll reveals

Who is a qualified doctor? Nearly half of patients don't know what a 'physician associate' is despite NHS plans for them to deliver more care, poll reveals Doctors have opposed a rollout of Physician Associates in GPs and hospitals They argue that PAs have insufficient training and could put patients at risk More than 3,500 are deployed in England, with plans to train up to 10,000 By Shaun Wooller Health Editor Published: 00:38, 19 August 2024 | Updated: 00:46, 19 August 2024 e-mail View comments More than half of patients do not know what a 'physician associate' is despite NHS plans for them to deliver more care, a study reveals. Doctors have opposed a mass rollout of PAs in GP surgeries and hospitals, warning they have insufficient training and put patients at risk. More than 3,500 are already deployed in England, with plans to train 1,000 more each year to take the total up to 10,000 within 12 years.

The workers do not go to medical school but are usually expected to have either a science degree or a clinical qualification before they embark on a two-year postgraduate course to train to become a physician associate. Their duties include taking medical histories and conducting physical examinations. More than half of patients do not know what a 'physician associate' is despite NHS plans for them to deliver more care, a study reveals (file image) Doctors have opposed a mass rollout of PAs in GP surgeries and hospitals, warning they have insufficient training and put patients.