UK bans physician associates from treating undifferentiated patients
The UK Government implemented three major changes within hours of the review's publication.
The NHS has told its 3500 physician associates to stop treating undifferentiated patients and to use a new title: physician assistants.
The UK Government ordered an independent review of physician associates (PAs) amid concerns these “cheap substitutes” for doctors, with their two-year postgraduate qualifications, were risking patient safety.
In 2022, actress Emily Chesterton, 30, died from a pulmonary embolism after a PA who she thought was a GP misdiagnosed her with an ankle sprain.
The review was released on Wednesday, and within 24 hours, the NHS said GP practices should stop recruiting PAs unless they had at least two years of hospital experience, although current PAs could keep their jobs.
