Physician Assistant is an new Additional Role the NHS has implemented into GP practices. Some practices across Rushcliffe have a physician assistants.
Physician Assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals with a generalist medical education who work alongside doctors to provide medical care as part of the multidisciplinary team. The first PAs were formally introduced in the UK in 2003!
PAs have undertaken a focused 2-year postgraduate degree in physician assistant studies which is a mixture of medical teaching and clinical placement. This is after they have already completed a 3-to-4-year undergraduate degree in a health or life science.
PAs generally work alongside and under the close supervision of a doctor. They are trained to work within a defined scope of practice which generally includes taking medical histories from patients, carrying out physical examinations & formulating differential diagnoses and management plans.
PAs currently can’t prescribe therefore prescriptions usually require a discussion with their supervising doctor.
Are they a Doctor?
No they are not, they are a trained healthcare professional who works as part of the clinical team under the supervision of a GP. They discuss each case with the doctor and can call the doctor in too if needed.
Why am I seeing a PA and not a Doctor?
At VHG we have an on call team which has doctors, Pharmacists and Physician Assistants within it. A triaging GP has seen your online request and is happy that the Physician Assistant is able to deal with this. The Physician Assistant will discuss your case with the supervising doctor and get them in too see you if needed too.