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Original poster

Physician associate… should I report? Yes or no?

355 replies

Elsie256 · 11/08/2023 23:04

phoned my GP to book an appointment, was told by reception I’d be seen by the emergency doctor covering.

i’ve really been struggling with really back pain and weight loss and was so grateful to have gotten an appointment. Arrived at the surgery and was called into the room and the guy introduces himself as ‘one of the medics’ , I go onto tell him my symptoms and he was very dismissive, told me I was probably overreacting and that I need not worry.

I felt something wasn’t right in how dismissive they were so I asked if I could see someone else at reception before I left the surgery.

the receptionist said ‘well if you’re still worried I can book you in with a doctor in a few days’. Turns out I’d seen a physician associate but they’d just introduced themselves as ‘one of the medics’ so I thought that meant doctor

finally got to see a doctor a few days later who looked very worried and referred me onwards straight away and very sadly been diagnosed with kidney cancer

I’m really upset about this initial visit to the GP and felt I was really misled especially as they didn’t properly introduce themselves and clearly didn’t have the appropriate clinical experience to recognise my symptoms were something more serious. should I be complaining?

OP posts:
marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 26/08/2023 16:32

Shortkiwi · 11/08/2023 23:34

My F2 doctor daughter works with PAs - one told her on a ward round that he was basically the same as her. They don’t prescribe or order x rays, work social hours and haven’t got the extensive medical knowledge/training that doctors have. I just don’t get why they get paid a lot more than F 1/2 doctors who have far more responsibility, it’s just not fair. If they ask my DD to prescribe or order x rays she has to examine a patient from scratch as it’s her job on the line and she won’t do it without seeing the patient.

Yes the same as her, until he has to get someone to sign off his decisions. Im really against them.

Ruba84 · 01/09/2023 12:54

Good question. But it will be logged for when there is an official regulation. Definitely let your MP know! I feel so worried for members of the public that think they are seeing a doctor. Some physicians associates dont clarify they are not a doctor.

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 01/09/2023 13:05

I’ve met some good PAs but tbh I’m not sure they should be working in place of GPs. You can become one after 2 years training with a science degree.

if they’re struggling for GPs I episode rather be seen by a nurse practitioner or a paramedic as at least they will have years of patient facing experience before completing additional training to work in GPs surgeries. They’re also registered professionals in their own right, but wouldn’t be misleading and call themselves medics.

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 01/09/2023 13:05

I would rather.

Hammy65 · 01/09/2023 16:07

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 01/09/2023 13:05

I’ve met some good PAs but tbh I’m not sure they should be working in place of GPs. You can become one after 2 years training with a science degree.

if they’re struggling for GPs I episode rather be seen by a nurse practitioner or a paramedic as at least they will have years of patient facing experience before completing additional training to work in GPs surgeries. They’re also registered professionals in their own right, but wouldn’t be misleading and call themselves medics.

I think that’s a good and very helpful comment. It’s all a bit confusing for us ordinary folk who just pitch up to see ‘a doctor!’ The nurse practitioners we have been referred to at our practice have been excellent.

Tistheseason17 · 02/09/2023 14:36

Just balance out...
Recently referred to Dermatology- they told me I had skin cancer... I did not. I had even questioned the diagnosis and been confirmed def cancer. Wrong.
No clinician is perfect. But I'd rather see ANP than PA, too.

alexdgr8 · 03/09/2023 10:21

Tistheseason17
what did it turn out to be ?
hope you are ok now.

Orangesandlemons82 · 08/09/2023 08:36

I have just had 2 physician associate appointments. Each time he introduced himself as a 'physician'. I thought he was ok until I checked on the NHS app and he recorded sats, temp and pulse - none of which he had actually checked. In fact the temp he gave me would have made me borderline hypothermic.

Parsleymint · 08/09/2023 10:30

@Orangesandlemons82 I had the same. He introduced himself as a physician though I knew he was a PA. He checked my stomach.On the notes I checked later he said "chaperone declined,". He never offered a chaperone, not that I would have said yes.

TVstolemyevenings · 08/09/2023 11:30

Orangesandlemons82 · 08/09/2023 08:36

I have just had 2 physician associate appointments. Each time he introduced himself as a 'physician'. I thought he was ok until I checked on the NHS app and he recorded sats, temp and pulse - none of which he had actually checked. In fact the temp he gave me would have made me borderline hypothermic.

Please tell me you have complained about that? It’s a very serious probity issue

TVstolemyevenings · 08/09/2023 11:31

Parsleymint · 08/09/2023 10:30

@Orangesandlemons82 I had the same. He introduced himself as a physician though I knew he was a PA. He checked my stomach.On the notes I checked later he said "chaperone declined,". He never offered a chaperone, not that I would have said yes.

Ditto this
falsifying notes is a massive issue

Parsleymint · 08/09/2023 13:29

Not complained for the same reason most people don't complain. I don't want to be that patient. I have multiple health conditions and end up at GP a lot. I will avoid this person if possible and correct him if I am forced to see him again.

TVstolemyevenings · 08/09/2023 16:45

That’s a real shame although I do understand. But honestly this is a very reasonable thing to highlight. You can simply say you would like your notes to reflect what actually happened and state what that was

Coffeewinecake · 08/09/2023 18:06

@Parsleymint and @Orangesandlemons82

This is absolutely unacceptable- I am gobsmacked by such blatant lies by the PAs and false representations. If it were a doctor or nurse that did that, they would be struck off and rightly so.
Of course it is up to you both but I implore you to complain. You will not be considers THAT patient. The one about the chaperone makes me feel slightly sick, tbh.

GlitteringUnicorn · 08/09/2023 21:01

I hope you will agree that this is misleading?
Anyone else assume Raj is a qualified doctor.

Physician associate… should I report? Yes or no?
Annoyedwithmyself · 08/09/2023 21:19

Is it Medical Team- Drs and PA then Practice Team- nurses and others? If so, I think Raj should be under Practice Team.

Orangesandlemons82 · 08/09/2023 22:11

@GlitteringUnicorn wow, that is misleading!

Orangesandlemons82 · 08/09/2023 22:14

@Coffeewinecake I received a text asking what I thought of their service so put in the comments section about the observations recorded. Will be interesting to see if they follow it up. Once I'm feeling better I will contact them if I haven't heard from them in the meantime.

LadyWithLapdog · 08/09/2023 22:20

It is misleading, the Dr must be a PhD in something, rather than medical doctor.

TokyoStories · 08/09/2023 23:46

Annoyedwithmyself · 08/09/2023 21:19

Is it Medical Team- Drs and PA then Practice Team- nurses and others? If so, I think Raj should be under Practice Team.

https://www.bloomsburysurgery.nhs.uk/team

The nurses and clinical pharmacists are in with the medical team.

medical-team

medical-team

https://www.bloomsburysurgery.nhs.uk/team

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 09/09/2023 17:20

Everyone knows that a medic is a doctor.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 09/09/2023 17:23

The worst of it is, under the new workforce plan, the actual doctor is legally responsible for their behaviour. The government will be against anyone criticising them, as they're keen to break up any perceived power in the medical profession.

VickyEadieofThigh · 09/09/2023 17:25

Elsie256 · 11/08/2023 23:13

would you have also assumed doctor if someone introduced themselves as ‘one of the medics’?

Yes - they should always tell you exactly what their status is. I once saw a pharmacist (I had a persistent cough after a virus) and was (a) asked by the receptionist if I would mind seeing him and (b) told by him that he was a pharmacist who'd had additional training as soon as I sat down. He said he could refer me to a doctor if I wasn't happy.

Helpinhand505 · 29/01/2024 14:08

yes please complain. you will get thousands of pounds in compensation. These physician associates are making life threatening decisions unchallenged.

raise a complaint here:
https://www.fparcp.co.uk/pamvr/overview
steps
1- click on above link
2- click on PAMVR tab at top
3- click on raise a complaint tab at top

Faculty of Physician Associates - quality health care across the NHS

The physician associate is an innovative new health professional, who works with the clinical team to provide quality health care across the NHS

https://www.fparcp.co.uk/pamvr/overview

Ofcourseshecan · 29/01/2024 14:27

I hope you get correct treatment from here on and make a full recovery, OP. Your experience was disgraceful. Do complain if you feel up to it. It’s not only about his incompetence (I would expect any health professional to investigate unexplained wright loss), but his arrogance and ‘stop wasting my valuable time, you unimportant woman’ attitude.