Am I seeing a physician associate or a doctor? (22 July 2024)

Summary

In recent years, the NHS has expanded the use of 'medical associate' roles to help tackle staff shortages and improve access to care. One of these roles is the Physician Associate (PA). With plans to employ 10,000 physician associates by 2037, this blog by Healthwatch looks at how aware patients are of PAs and how NHS staff and medical regulators can improve their understanding and experience. It draws on polling done by Healthwatch which presents a mixed picture of public awareness that varies according to age, with younger people showing more awareness of the difference between doctors and PAs. The blog also highlights Healthwatch's 'Five steps to improve clarity' about PAs, developed alongside the Patients Association and National Voices.