How will expansion of physician associates affect patient safety? (BMJ, 5 July 2024)

Summary

The UK, like many other countries, has developed occupations intended to alleviate the work of nurses. Variously called nursing assistants or associates, there are now over 10 000 registered in the UK. Unfortunately, the evidence on patient safety is far from reassuring. Experience with nursing assistants calls for extreme caution, write Rachel Greenley and Martin McKee in this BMJ opinion piece.