Overview

The physician assistants (previously known as physician associates) are healthcare professionals with a generalist healthcare education who work alongside doctors and surgeons providing medical care as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team. PAs work under the supervision of a named senior doctor (such as a named General Medical Council registered consultant or general practitioner).

PAs roles have been working in the UK since 2003 and can be found working in primary and secondary care across 20 specialty areas in the UK such as internal medicine, general practice, surgery and emergency medicine.

PAs are utilised as supplementary members of the multidisciplinary team in a wide range of clinical areas, and under the supervision of a named senior doctor. The specific tasks performed are dependent upon the clinical area worked in and can vary between hospitals.

PAs operate within the limits of their competence and a defined scope of practice, which is decided locally by the supervising consultant or GP and may change over time as their knowledge, skills and experience develops.

This information is from NHS Employers, please visit their site for further reading Physician assistants | NHS Employers

Career Path and Training

Physician associate | Health Careers

Useful Links

The Role of the Physician Assistant in Primary Care Following the Leng Review

Contact

stw.traininghub@nhs.net