The regulator cautioned about the risk to patient safety associated with the proposal to hire 10,000 healthcare staff to assist doctors.
Doctors caution the UK medical regulator that the wider use of physician associates in the NHS could jeopardize patient safety and increase healthcare inequalities in underprivileged communities that find it difficult to recruit general practitioners (GPs).
Doctors who believe physician associates’ tasks are unclear and could endanger patient safety are angered over the government’s intention to recruit 10,000 physician associates. Starting in December, the General Medical Council (GMC) will oversee physician and anesthesia associates who also work under the doctor’s supervision.
The British Medical Association and the doctor’s union sought judicial review last week due to the “dangerous blurring of lines” between doctors and medical associate professionals. It argues that anesthesia and physician associates need regulation and not by the GMC.
The functions of the associates should be clarified according to other professional membership organizations. The Royal College of General PR actioners (RCGP) informed the GMC that although regulations represent “significant steps forward,” the scope of practice still needs immediate development.
“There is concern that the deployment of physician associates in deprived areas, which often struggle to hire or retain GPs, could lead to inequalities in patient care and outcomes,” the RCGP wrote a reply to a GMC consultation on regulation. Eight out of ten respondents to an RCGP survey considered the negative effects on patients to be one challenging of using physician associates in general practice.
Lack of clarification over associates’ roles, according to the Hospital Consultant and Specialist Association, “will risk patient safety.” “It is very easy for associate o professions to be mistake for doctors and for misunderstanding to arise around the level of skills and experience due to the current title of the roles, lack of clarity on scope and ambiguity on supervision.”
Physician associates have been working at the National Health Service since 2002 and anesthesia associates since 2004. They work in general practice and hospitals. Physician associates are not allowed to prescribe medicine but can conduct physical examinations and carry out diagnostic procedures. They are trained in a two-year postgraduate program.
The National Health Service in England has over 3,300 physicians and anesthetic associates. The long-term working plan for the NHS, published last year, aimed to have 2,000 anesthesia associates and 1000 physician associates by 2036-37.
According to research from the UK and other countries, physician associates may provide safe, cost-effective care, but the roles have created a contentious debate in the medical community.
This month, Sarah Clarke announced her resignation as president of the Royal College of Physicians after members complained that the leadership had not acted on the evidence that medical associates were “systematically replacing doctors.”
Under the Medical Act 1983, it is illegal to use the physician title for someone who is not a registered medical doctor. According to the partnership, “genuine errors” were made in its promotional materials, and an internal investigation is being conducted to determine what went wrong.
United Medical Associate Professionals (UMAPs) chief executive and physician associate Stephen Nash stated, “These roles provide greater access to patients who would not be able to see a doctor otherwise.” When we observe patients exhibiting red flag signs, we can work with other healthcare professionals to stabilize the patient and make the necessary referrals. We are undoubtedly prepared to lead the front lines. Nash denied the safety danger posed by physician associates in places where it is difficult to find general practitioners.
According to a GMC spokesperson, regulating physicians and anesthesia associates would reassure colleagues and patients that they are accountable from practice to practice and may be held accountable if serious concerns are raised.
