Matt Morgan: Do we still really need doctors?

Patients can now travel through health systems without ever meeting or needing a doctor. If their minor foot infection gets worse despite topical treatment from a pharmacist, they may see a primary care specialist nurse. After being referred to the hospital’s fast track assessment centre they’re seen by a physician assistant, before having an operation carried out by a surgical nurse practitioner helped by an anaesthetic assistant. Their postoperative sepsis is spotted by the critical care outreach team, and an advanced critical care practitioner inserts a central line to treat their septic shock. They survive their critical illness and are followed up in clinic by a consultant psychologist, consultant physiotherapist, and critical care follow-up nurse. All of which begs the question—do we still really need doctors?Acquiring specialist knowledge used to be expensive, guarded, and closely controlled. Budding doctors were invited into this hallowed fold if they were clever enough, rich…
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