NHS: GP surgeries; privatisation; physician associates

[bobbler]

The bitter row between GPs and physician associates is threatening the NHS

The bitter row between GPs and physician associates is threatening the NHS

Really refreshing to hear the response of ‘we are finding out what they think before we reply’ from a patient association

which to me makes the potential for political and other things being involved rather than thinking and having enough of the right voices listened to that having a knee jerk stance at Theo ready cab indicate on many things

 

[Sly Saint]

Physician associates to be renamed to stop them being mistaken for doctors

Physician associates in the NHS will be renamed to stop patients mistaking them for doctors after a review found that their title caused widespread confusion....

However, Prof Gillian Leng, whose government-ordered review is looking into whether they pose a risk to patients’ safety, has concluded that they must be given a new name, so patients they treat are not misled into thinking they have seen a doctor, according to sources with knowledge of her thinking.

Doctors who fear the term has created widespread confusion among the public and risks undermining trust in the medical profession will regard ditching it as a major victory.

Wes Streeting, the health secretary, is expected to accept Leng’s recommendation and instigate the change, which could lead to physician associates being renamed “physician assistants” or “doctors’ assistants”. She will also specify in her final report, due later this month, that those who perform those roles must make clear to patients that they are assistants, not fully fledged medics.

When Streeting appointed Leng to undertake the review he said that while many PAs provided good care there were “legitimate concerns over transparency for patients, scope of practice and the substituting of doctors”.

A Department of Health and Social Care source said: “It’s clear there’s a legitimate problem of patients not knowing who they are seen by, which is their basic right. It is likely the review will make recommendations to address this problem, including changing the titles of PAs.”

“The secretary of state asked Prof Gillian Leng to produce an independent review into PAs and AAs that will provide certainty to patients and staff across the NHS.

Physician associates to be renamed to stop them being mistaken for doctors

 

[Kiristar]

I had my first experience of an associate physician this week. They were clearly badged and did not attempt a diagnosis, instead logged my symptoms account to my notes. They booked me in for the next available home visit slot the next day with a Dr familiar with the emerging issue at hand (none behave well re my ME) .

So basically it was a slightly more thorough triage appointment. Which I suppose on one hand delayed a Dr seeing me by half a day. But I found the interaction more empathetic than a regular Dr (perhaps an issue at my particular surgery) and it's the first time a Dr has done a home appointment so my symptoms were taken properly seriously.

Overall a positive experience similar to seeing a nurse practitioner, but I'd far rather sufficient Dr places were funded by the government and allocated at medical schools in the first place.

The challenge of healthcare systems isn't easy but rapid accurate differential diagnostics seems vital, especially when you read some of the personal stories shared that could have turned out so differently.