- GP leaders seek PA regulation.
- PAs exceed qualifications.
- Urgent need for oversight.
GP leaders are calling for a crackdown on physician associates (PAs) in the NHS following a series of life-threatening misdiagnoses.
In June, the government announced plans to hire 10,000 PAs over the next 15 years. PAs are healthcare professionals with two years of training, supporting doctors and nurses with daily tasks, freeing up time for patients.
However, due to staff shortages and overwhelmed GP offices, existing PAs are increasingly asked to take on roles beyond their qualifications and original scope. These duties include conducting unsupervised patient appointments, diagnosing illnesses, and determining treatment plans.
Additionally, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has cautioned that due to the lack of regulation, PAs are immune from liability for errors.
In a shocking incident, 79-year-old North London resident Norman Jopling suffered a severe brain hemorrhage after a PA incorrectly diagnosed his severe headaches as non-critical. Maureen Paton Maguire, Jopling’s distressed spouse, accused the NHS of prioritizing cost savings by allowing PAs to perform tasks beyond their qualifications.
“Don’t miss out! Grab your free shares of Webull UK today!”
Another woman reported that her 97-year-old mother, residing in a Solihull care facility, was sent to the hospital for unnecessary tests by a PA whom she mistook for a general practitioner for several months.
A third individual mentioned that a PA prescribed antibiotics for a suspected chest infection in her spouse, while a physician later diagnosed him with severe pulmonary disease and referred him to the hospital for tests that revealed prostate cancer one week later.
Numerous doctors have claimed that the use of PAs is leading to fatalities and missed diagnoses. They warn that this happens frequently due to staff shortages and unsupervised appointments that exceed their intended scope. The government ended a consultation on whether the General Medical Council, which regulates physicians, should regulate PAs in May. Regulations would define the responsibilities of PAs and allow the NHS to dismiss them for preventable errors.
A decision is not expected until late 2024. However, according to Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chairman of the RCGP, waiting is not an option: “We’ve been advocating for regulation for years and would like to see it implemented immediately.” The need for help and direction is evident.
Dr. Caroline Johnson, a consultant paediatrician and member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee for the Conservative Party, supports regulation for PAs. She believes they should be accountable to the GMC or a specific regulatory body for diagnosing and practicing medicine. Establishing clear regulations and lines of accountability is essential when introducing a new category of NHS clinicians.
Norman began experiencing migraines in February, describing them as intermittent waves of pain throughout the day. He suspected a pinched nerve. His wife, Maureen, recalls, “Before this, Norman had never heard of a physician associate.” He expected to see his regular physician but instead encountered a young man who clarified that he was not a physician.
