No physiology, immunology or microbiology: Physician associates sold a lie about their clinical training
Medical student Adam Skeen has done physician associate training and says there are large gaps in the two-year course.
Thousands of physician associates — seen as bargain-basement replacements for doctors in the UK — are being sold lies about the true extent of their training and clinical skills, a medical student has claimed.
Adam Skeen trained as a physician associate (PA) before winning a place at medical school.
With the UK’s NHS facing the worst crisis in its 75-year history, some 3000 PAs have been trained via a two-year master’s degree.
Working under medical supervision, some are performing surgery or administering anaesthesia, but many are working in general practice.
