GP leaders in England call for a pause in recruitment of physician associates

The BMA’s GP committee for England (GPC England) has called for an immediate pause in the recruitment of physician associates (PAs) in general practice.In an emergency motion passed on 2 November the committee expressed “concerns over the increasing trend of PAs being used to substitute GPs” and called on practices and primary care networks to stop PA recruitment “until appropriately safe regulatory processes and structures are in place.”GPs and GP registrars were also reminded that they can refuse to sign prescriptions and turn down requests for investigations made by PAs.Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of GPC England, said that the motion was “about finding ways to protect patients by ensuring appropriate processes and regulations are in place.” She said that a variety of healthcare professionals contribute to the care of patients in general practice, from physiotherapists to diabetes nurses, and that patients needed to know what each healthcare professional can and cannot…
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