Doctors\u2019 Association UK (DAUK) chair Helen Fernandes highlighted the expansion of non-doctor roles in the NHS, saying the public was being allowed \u2018to think they\u2019re being seen by a doctor when they\u2019re not\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms Fernandes said: “I\u00a0feel that they [PAs] have been mis-sold a degree, which is not really a master’s qualification. They’ve been mis-sold a career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is a crying shame for both the NHS, patients and for the PAs themselves, that the initial design of their role has morphed into something that’s become this unimaginable monster of inappropriate use of people who are well motivated, and want to help in the care of patients but that are not qualified or trained to do so and never will be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms Fernandes was speaking to the Mail Online<\/a> after Labour\u2019s Wes Street, the shadow health secretary, said he was \u2018depressed by the state of the debate\u2019 around PAs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a speech at a Medical Journalists\u2019 Association<\/a> event this week he said it would \u2018be wrong to throw the baby out with the bathwater, and just say \u201cbecause of some legitimate concerns that doctors have, we\u2019re just going to kind of slam the brakes on and end physician associates in the NHS\u201d.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mr Streeting said: \u201cI think it is important that we address seriously the concerns that doctors are raising, that we make sure that physician associates are deployed appropriately. That they work within their scope of practice, that they are complementing the role of doctors not replacing them or substituting them inappropriately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s important for patient safety. I also think it\u2019s important for a much better workplace culture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mr Streeting added: \u2018I think there\u2019s been a failure of leadership and not listening to doctors and allowing this toxic culture to erupt with barely any public commentary whatsoever from the leaders of this system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ms Fernandes welcomed moves by the Royal College of GPs (RCGP)<\/a> to recommend GP practices review their plans and halt recruitment of PAs until the role is regulated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She said: \u201cWe welcome the RCGP\u2019s report and would strongly support the recommendation to halt the further recruitment of PAs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019d urge the next government to properly examine this issue and acts to ensure that standards are not compromised and patients are not being put at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThousands upon thousands of doctors are expressing their concern, and patient safety must always be paramount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have deep sympathy for PAs who find themselves in the middle of this, through no fault of their own. They, the profession, and the public are being badly let down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA resolution is needed for the sake of everyone, most of all our patients.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The RCGP recommendation followed a number of concerning findings from a consultation, which was completed by 5,112 of its members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These include concerns around patient safety and standards of induction and supervision of PAs working in general practice, the RCGP said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More details of the RCGP report are available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n