Physician associate… should I report? Yes or no?

[Elsie256]

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?

He didn’t, he said he was a medic.

A doctor is a healthcare professional who has completed a medical degree at university. A medic is a more general term that broadly refers to anyone working in medicine, such as a physician, medical student, paramedic or emergency medical responder. The terms are also often used interchangeably.
https://medicalschoolexpert.co.uk/difference-between-a-doctor-and-a-medic/#:~:text=A%20doctor%20is%20a%20healthcare,are%20also%20often%20used%20interchangeably.

I’m sorry he was so dismissive op. It’s good you pushed to see someone further, I hope you are soon in the road to recovery.

It's technically illegal to misrepresent yourself as a licenced medical practitioner. He is skating on incredibly thin ice. He absolutely should have told you his actual role.

Im very sorry about your diagnosis OP. I disagree with this poster, please complain OP. I don't think the medic thing matters, I have no medical training and know that those symptoms need urgently investigating. Nurse, doctor, any medic should have known to refer you, if you don't complain this medic could do the same again to someone else. I would raise your concerns to the practice manager and also via PALS. PALS in particular were great when I raised concerns via them.

At no point did this person give their title to OP

They used a generalised term that deliberately makes their patients think they are a doctor when they aren't. And actually are no where near a doctor or a nurse . They know OP thinks they saw a dr

Not only that they dismissed OP and ignored her unexplained weightloss.

Patients have a right to know who is treating them and their qualifications. And clinicians should be making that clear to patients.

Absolutely complain, I’d start locally and see how far you get. For those saying go to the GMC, absolutely no point, not regulated by them yet so they won’t be able to do anything, not even so much as keep a record as they’re isn’t a PA register yet. However, if you report locally, they will have to disclose it when they do apply to be on the register.

@Theyrethreetheyresixtheyreninetheyreeight
To a lay person going to see the Doctor - when she was told that is who she would be seeing, using the term medic would not make anyone think the person was not a doctor. It appears at no point did he clarify what he actually was. I don't the op quickly googled what the definition of medic was.

Please complain and report to CQC and local ICB (integrated care board). Three clear issues - firstly, and most importantly, this person missed key, and well known, red flags that they should have picked up. Secondly, they misled you in their introduction. Thirdly, reception misled you by saying you would be booked with the duty doctor. I’m so sorry for your diagnosis and wish you the best of luck with your treatment.

I’m very sorry to hear your diagnosis OP. I would complain. I’m personally aware that “medic” doesn’t mean “doctor” but I work in the NHS and most people wouldn’t. Doctors can make mistakes too.., but I would wAnt this more thoroughly investigated, especially as another person had mentioned the guidelines that PA’s shouldn’t see repeat symptoms. There must be a reason this was put in the guidance so this needs to be rectified in the surgery’s protocols.
This is very small beans but I have an appt forthcoming to discuss menopause symptoms and HRT and it was offered as an appointment with a nurse - not a doctor - and whilst I think generally nurses have excellent knowledge I am still a bit surprised. NHS is changing before our eyes. I’m so sorry x

@CarPour

"And actually are no where near a doctor or a nurse"

This isn't correct in reference to nurses.

I’m so sorry you’ve been diagnosed with this.

My father was suffering from excruciating back pain and was seen by a GP. He was misdiagnosed for several months before he received his diagnosis of kidney cancer. This was a GP who had been our family doctor for over 20 years. My aunt, who was a nurse, had been laughing at him and telling him to stop being such a baby. It’s not just PAs.

Yes it is

Nurses are regulated, physicians associates are not for a start.

Medic doesn't mean doctor

Absolutely. As yet, there is no regulatory authority for PAs. This is why, for example, they can't prescribe. Or be held to account.

OP, I am really sorry to hear your diagnosis. I rarely suggest complaints at this stage, as I think you need to focus on treatment and recovery. But this is not a complicated complaint, it shouldn’t detract you too much. It’s normal to want to know who treats you, who touches you, who plans your care. Furthermore, the sooner other patients are warned, the better.

many thanks for that link, Glittering.
sobering reading indeed.

Thank goodness you realised, but it's a disgrace that this is happening and you were misled. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Wishing you the best.

Article

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/1f4f5dba-1ea2-11ee-a0e9-e23dc75d995a?shareToken=dfba74d19a7f1339906e2d6fef6ad83b

I was a bit shocked to visit my gp recently with a breast lump and got a PA - I basically said ‘you what now? What did you say? What is that?’ I was asking those questions with complete incredulity and disappointment as I wanted - and was expecting - to see a real doctor. She was actually very thorough and I was referred on a 2 week pathway but it still makes me cross that I was duped and given no warning or explanation until I got into the consultation room. The NHS really could do so much better on just the very basics.

I’m really sorry to hear your diagnosis OP and I wish you much love and hope you have a successful journey.

My daughter is training to be a PA. She’s working incredibly hard, has has excellent feedback from both GP and junior doctors/consultants during her placement. She firmly believes that they should be in uniform, that it should be instantly recognisable to patients that they are not doctors. She knows her “lane” and I wholeheartedly believe that she will be an asset to the NHS. PAs, when used correctly, are a fantastic resource. They should have been regulated by now, they want to be regulated - it just needs to happen.

On the flip side, I buried my husband in 2021 after doctors failed to follow up on an area of concern in his lung following a PET scan after radiotherapy for a stage one cancer. PET scan showed it had spread for which he had major surgery. He was in hospital recovering for this, in excruciating pain in his back, but we were constantly told we had to go to our GP for another referral. He was discharged in September, back in two weeks later and dead in November. I’m lying in bed tonight typing this and just feeling that empty space beside me. I haven’t put in a complaint yet. Not sure if I will. Not sure if I am strong enough to have that final confirmation I lost him far too early because of someone not doing their job properly.

Having said all that. OP, yes you absolutely should report this PA. Rule 1 is you make your patient absolutely aware of who you are and what your role is, and you are a shining example of listening to your own gut about your health. I truly wish you the very best.

I’m so sorry for your loss @quandry101

Are you sure he didn't have a name badge on with his job description.

I'm not sure that saying I'm one of the medics is dishonest. I bet if he said he was a PA 90% of patients wouldn't know it meant so saying 'I'm one of the medical makes more sense.

I'd still report it though because it might be helpful. Did he honestly say that you were overreacting? In those actual words?

I'm very sorry about your diagnosis.

Yes I would have assumed that, firstly because it was at a GP surgery, and secondly because they told you that you’d be seen by an emergency doctor. If they told you they were sending you to a doctor, they should have done.

It’s absolutely outrageous and he absolutely should be reported. The surgery should be pulled up too. They should not be calling PAs doctors.

Oh goodness, complain!! You’d asked to be booked with the doctor and you were not told otherwise so it’s the practice staff as well as the physicians associate at fault here. The moment I read back pain and weight loss I was thinking cancer and I am not a medic!! I am really sorry that is your diagnosis - I really wish you all the best for your treatment and recovery.

If someone told me they were a medic I'd be thinking not a Dr, but that's probably because I've worked in health care. I'd complain , with your symptoms he should have known to escalate it