Physician's Assistants

[MissMarplesNiece]

How would you feel as a parent if you knew your seriously ill child's treatment was being managed by a Physicians Assistant who had just two years training, only 3 weeks of which had been spent in paediatrics?

This isn't the first advert I've seen recruiting PAs into paediatric departments. This is a post at Registrar level so why isn't a qualified medical doctor being recruited for the post?

Why are NHS Trusts playing fast and loose with children's health?

I hope the new government put a stop to this nonsense.

Nonsense indeed. I spoke to one on the phone who did not fess up that she was not a doctor. I worked it out when she prescribed inappropriately - and asked her. It's all a con.

I can understand your concerns but if you had a seriously ill child I don't think their care would be solely managed Aby a physcians assistant
My son was seen by one a few weeks back my sons disabled and goes to a special school his school had concerns he had a urine infection I didn't think he did but at their request booked a Dr's appointment ,where he was seen by physcians assistant I told her everything and because of the nature of his disabilities he refused to comply with having his obs taken etc so she went to see the actual gp who took his obs etc and was happy he didn't have a urine infection .

Qualified doctors can't find jobs because the NHS prefers PAs . A superficial two year training course with a 100% pass rate and they are paid more than proper doctors.
They are not legally allowed to prescribe but the GMC are going to change that when they introduce registration.

😱

PAs are cheaper than doctors and more controllable by management.
They are supposed to be supervised by consultants but in reality the consultants are told to take this on without any additional time for supervising so the PAs just carry on without much supervision. Some PAs are excellent but some are over confident and reluctant to ask for advice from doctors despite very little medical training.
It's not clear who will take responsibility if the PA makes a significant medical error.
Always check if the person you are seeing is actually a qualified doctor ( ask for their GMC number).

They can be really useful in a practice if they are properly trained and supervised. My mother, in her 90s, is regularly seen by one who always reminds her that he is a PA and checks with a doctor if needed.
I suspect a lot of the problems are down to inadequate supervision of those who will be over-confident and if supervising doctors are too busy to provide support when needed

The NHS has already introduced nursing associates who to my mind are basically a reincarnation of enrolled nurses who were being phased out when I started my nurse training in the early 90,s .

I honestly don't understand the need for this role when there are already advanced nurse practitioners who basically fulfil the same role but have a bigger scope of practice in regards to prescribing rights etc. They, like PAs, are also masters educated but in addition, have years of post registration experience under their belts before undertaking their masters level education. The introduction of the PA role seems like such a waste of money and resources. Perhaps there's something about the role that I'm missing though.

That's a lot of responsibility for the consultant who will also be supervising junior Dr,s

Totally agree. There is a target to recruit them and they are cheaper. It’s disgraceful

Yes and according to the NAs, they are doing the role of registered nurses without the knowledge base underpinning it. The NMC are clear on their scope of practice but in reality, they are being thrown in at the deep end. They do a 2 year course but it isn't as in depth or as academic as the full nursing degree. Much like this PA role.

I check who any appointments are with, and would always refuse a PA. It's bloody dangerous, the more of us refuse them, the better.

My husband ended up in an appointment with one a month ago, his advice and recommendations were wrong and dangerous. DH is a surgeon so obviously reported it, I feel so scared for the people who trust them.

I would also always refuse treatment from a PA. I would ask for a doctor.

So what is the point of the NHS taking up your time and wasting a salary on a person who can't reliably manage a diagnosis? Utterly wasteful.

I think that was one of the reasons why enrolled nurses were phased out originally some were expected to do the same job as registered nurses without the same training or pay .

https://x.com/iDrSunny/status/1814201766822469985?t=dLZVNGXvmKHGOpO7REUd9w&s=19
Example here of a very specialised and highly desirable doctor role being allocated to a PA. For more money.

To be honest, it’s not just PA’s. It’s other AHP’s as well. Paramedics and Occupational Therapists acting as GP’s. The Government won’t fund salaries for GP’s, but are funding salaries for AHP’s. What’s the point ? They aren’t qualified to do the job.

Doctors are leaving in droves as they are treated like second rate citizens and paid poorly.

Why?

So what a waste of time if she had to just get a proper GP.

They are fine for colds and straightforward chest infections. But not for anything more.

All the NAs I know are topping up to become band 5 nurses

The thing is AI can do a better job than a human doctor now, so all you really need is a person with a good bedside manner and a computer.The decline in the need fir as many doctors has been predicted fir many years

That is not true.

@mm81736
😂😂
Don't be ridiculous