The Royal College of General Practitioners has advised its members to halt the recruitment of physician associates (PAs) after a survey revealed concerns about patient safety and lack of supervision in general practice. More than 5000 GPs and GP trainees responded to the questionnaire, with 80% expressing concerns about patient safety and 50% aware of instances where safety was compromised. The RCGP emphasized that PAs should not replace doctors and should always be properly supervised. There is a disconnect between RCGP recommendations and NHS England’s expectations, with many GPs likely to follow RCGP guidance. The author questions how the medical establishment allowed the dangerous plan of replacing highly trained doctors with PAs to be implemented, calling for reflection and an apology to those affected.
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Helen Salisbury: Physician associates in general practice—time to pause and reflect
