Physician’s associate introduced as Dr at GP surgery

[Elenor444]

The man I saw introduced himself as “Dr fhdjdj” so I assumed that I’d seen a GP.
Then only after the appointment I found out that my prescription was awaiting approval from a GP and that i’d actually not even seen a GP

should I write and complain?
anyone else been misled?

@Stompythedinosaur dentists can use the title as a courtesy but our guidelines are very clear. The GDC, the Advertising Standards Authority and Trading Standards believe that the use of the title carries the risk of misleading patients into believing that the user is a medical doctor so it must be made clear that we are dentists not medical doctors.
Maxillofacial consultants are usually qualified as both dentists and doctors.

"ACPs are experienced healthcare professionals who are state-registered (eg nurses, physiotherapists, paramedics, pharmacists). We undergo a clinical and academic training."

Many of them are nurses. Who go through extra training. I'm not disputing they are good at what they do. But don't ever EVER pass yourself off as, imply, suggest that you are a Doctor. Because you aren't. And to infer that you are, anything close, is insulting to both Doctors, the training they do go through. And more so, to the intellect of us as nhs patients.

It's an absolute insult to my fucxing intellect as a human being.

I clearly said it was a paramedic.

I mentioned it as there’s clearly a trend for less GPs similar to many other experiences on this thread.

A doctor would be much less likely to miss double pneumonia I suspect.

A psychologist is not a psychiatrist. The latter is a doctor. To call a psychologist a doctor is ridiculous. And have you seen the variety in psychology degrees? Added to which, there are 6 or more branches of psychology after degree level, and they all lead to different jobs. None of which is a doctor.

Really, this thread is getting silly now. Why not call everyone a doctor, including the hca, and have done with it?!

I'm aware psychologist isn't a protected term, nor is nurse or doctor for that matter (though registered nurse and medical doctor are).

However I think it's fair to assume someone employed in the NHS as a psychologist is a clinical psychologist, forensic psychologist or educational psychologist. They are a doctor.

A graduate of a psychology degree is not the same thing at all.

All I'm saying is that there are clearly multiple profession's who use the title, so clarity in describing your role is vital.

Equally, both an F1 and a medical consultant can use the title dr, but you need to know which one is treating you. They aren't the same.

If everyone introduced themselves by name and role, this wouldn't be an issue. That's what I think we need.

But psychologists are doctors and that is their standard title.

That's what I'm trying to say, this is an area I work in and it is absolutely normal for the title doctor to be used. You can dislike it, but I doubt it is going to change.

Psychologists may use the title Dr but they are not a doctor.
Can you really not see the difference? The training, the qualifications and the job is completely different.

As an anaesthetist who introduces herself as Dr Trish Trix the anaesthetic doctor (given up on using consultant) and then gets called nurse regularly I have concluded patients haven't got a clue about who does what in a healthcare setting and what training we have. I was once asked about whether or not my patient (post GCSE) could apply for "anaesthetic" training and when I mentioned needing to go to medical school the parent said "well that would be a huge waste of time to just be an anaesthetist". Laugh. Inner cry.

I'm genuinely very very concerned about PAs using their PhD (or lesser DMSc titles) to introduce themselves as doctors. I've only really heard about this in GP but it may well be happening in hospitals too.

As a patient if you are in any doubt at all ask who you are seeing - it's probably worth knowing that the protected term is registered medical practitioner. Using that if you aren't GMC registered is illegal.

OP I would definitely complain and it is high time the PAs were registered to a code of practice.

I've had one atttempt mislead me too and it was only after I clarified whether or not she was actually a GP that I understood my phone appt was with the PA. In this case I was happy to consult with them but I did expect to know who I was consulting with.

My medical records are plastered with my job role (I live in a deprived area and I know from previous conversations with one of the actual GPs it's a bit of a novelty for the practice to have a doctor patient) and so is the most recent correspondence about my as I sustained an injury that had implications for my job so it was mentioned a lot in the letters from the hospital specialists/ rehab people I saw.

They are not a medical doctor but they are a doctor.

It's a field I work in, I clearly understand the difference between the roles, I am only pointing out that there is no way to move to a world where only medical doctors use the title doctor, as other professional groups also use this title.

So the only feasible solution is professionals saying who they are as part of their introduction. Which is what I believe all healthcare professionals should do.

I agree and said so in my previous posts.

I'm a doctor and I find this very concerning. My younger sister attended the GP and was met with a PA who incorrectly diagnosed her. She attended for chest pain related to anxiety and the PA diagnosed reflux. Honestly I was astonished. She introduced herself as a doctor and my parents would have thought twice if she introduced herself correctly.

People treat doctors as though they are more qualified because they are more qualified. This does not discount the job of others. I personally feel that most PAs are not supported enough in their job roles and unfortunately do not know what they do not know.

GPs (more so in England) are essentially self-employed and GP practices follow a small business model. So if you are not happy with the use of APs or ANPs or whatever, they are employed at your practice because the GP/practice has implemented this model. It’s not “the NHS” forcing it onto GPs. It may be that the practice is having difficulty attracting/retaining GPs or it may be that the use of nurses/PAs has been deemed a cost effective way to run the practice/business. But either way, the GPs have permitted it.

My GP misdiagnosed my heart failure - it was a midwife who urgently referred me to A&E after twice being told by my GP that I had an infection (I was 4 days post partum). Mistakes happen in all professions.

Yes but this is an unusual circumstance. A GP in general is definitely more likely to pick up on heart failure than a midwife as they are more qualified. Just as a midwife is more likely to spot complications during labour as they are more qualified.

A psychologist is an allied health professional, in the same way as a physiotherapist is. Not a doctor.

www.hcpc-uk.org/news-and-events/blog/2023/understanding-the-regulation-of-psychologists/

The point is, a clinical psychologist, for example, is a protected allied health profession Their skills are to be respected. That does not make them medical doctors, and they don't have a medical qualification or registration. If they call themselves doctor in a clinical setting, to giver the impression that they are medically trained (which is what they would in effect be implying), they are breaking the law.

This

I'm guessing a Physician's Associate is a part-trained 'sort of doctor on the cheap?'

We patients really don't seem to matter any more.

@TrishTrix my DS is currently doing a residency in the US, having recently graduated from medical school. He decided against anesthesiology for his specialty because it is fast being taken over by nurse anesthetists who work under the supervision of a doctor. They are hospital employees, salaried, with insurance falling under hospital malpractice, whereas the Dr (MD or DO) who ultimately carries the can for any mistakes made is usually part of a private practice group that funds its own malpractice insurance, working in the hospital but not directly employed by the hospital.

Actually no, PAs have been forced on us by funding that can only be used for this purpose. Most GPs wouldn't have them if we had a choice. And if we could actually recruit more drs

Taken me a while to get back to the thread & I think many people are saying similar - you don’t sound happy with your care and you feel misled, reasonable complaint or comment to practice manager copying in lead GP then. I wouldn’t necessarily going in very angry, save that for hearing their response…

I work in a hospital as a midwife. I'm starting my phd, when I've finished it I will NOT introduce myself to women as Dr Vixen. It would be confusing and nobody needs to know.

I guarantee that it is absolutely normal for a psychologist to use the title of Dr in a healthcare setting. I understand you are unhappy about it, but it happens and is absolutely normal and current standard practice. They are both an allied health professional and a doctor.

But, I guess we'll have to agree to differ on the subject. You can continue to google things that you feel support your argument, but I'm 18 years into my profession in mental health services, so I'm going to go from my fairly extensive experience I'm afraid.

Psychologist I can definitely understand. If I saw a psychologist in a health setting I would want to know I was seeing a fully qualified one and to be honest if htey didn't introduce themselves as dr I'd be worried I was seeing some sort of psychology associate. Plus I wouldn't be seeing them about a chest infection, etc.