Physician Associates could save the NHS

By Rameez Tariq, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader MSc in Physician Associate Studies at The University of Bolton

With the NHS facing growing pressure, Physician Associates (PA) are the solution everyone’s turning to. Are you keen to learn more about how Physician Associates could save the NHS and what training is needed to join them? Read on.

State of play in UK Healthcare

Healthcare in the UK is under increasing pressure - exacerbated by the pandemic- with GP practices and patients under a lot of pressure. The BMJ explains “Longstanding issues such as high workload and staff shortages have collided with the demands of the pandemic to push practice teams to the limit.” GPs report higher levels of stress, emotional distress and anxiety. And even patients are noticing now. In a recent British Social Attitudes survey (BSA), satisfaction with GP’s are at their lowest levels with many Brits worrying if they’ll be able to access face-to-face appointments or what standard care they will receive in hospital. And they’re right to be concerned. According to The King’s Fund, “the NHS is suffering from staff shortages, with 121,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) vacancies and only 26% of the workforce stating there are enough staff at their organisation.”

How PAs can solve this crisis

According to the Royal College of Physicians, “The Physician Associate is an innovative new health professional, who works with the clinical team to provide quality health care across the NHS.” They’re seen as the cure for this shortage. The BMJ explains, “Some 3000 PAs are currently working in the UK. [And] NHS England’s long-term workforce plan aims for further expansion over the next decade, along with that of other so-called medical associate practitioners, such as Anaesthesia Associates and Surgical Care Practitioners.” There’s also an “additional roles reimbursement scheme” that will allow for more of these hires across the whole healthcare space and that’s supported by an overall government strategy to build an army of PAs. So, not only is this an emerging field but it’s also highly employable and in-demand. The NHS aims to increase the number of PAs working in England from 4k to 10k. That’s a lot of vacancies that students like you could fill.

What does a Physician Associate do?

If you were to look at a day in the life of a PA, it might go something like this:

Taking medical histories from patients

Performing physical exams

Checking in on patients with longer-term chronic conditions

Performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures

Analysing test results and diagnosing illnesses

Developing condition management plans

Sharing disease prevention and wellness advice with patients

And you could work just about anywhere within the UK’s healthcare infrastructure. However, most Physician Associates work in GP surgeries, acute (internal) medicine and the ER. You’ll work collaboratively with physicians and other healthcare professionals to enhance the efficiency of healthcare delivery, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare disparities.

How to train to become a PA

In our supportive and inclusive learning environment, you can train to become a Physician Associate in just two years. You’ll learn medical topics like anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology and clinical skills in interactive lectures, small-group discussions and simulation exercises. We think this is the best way for students to develop a deep understanding of medical theory and gain proficiency in essential clinical skills. And when you’re ready, we have placements available under supervision so you can put your skills into practice. This bookends the 1,600 hours of clinical training you’ll receive with 350 hours in general hospital medicine and 90 hours in paediatrics, mental health or surgery. It’s the right mix to arm you for general adult medicine in a GP or hospital.

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Career pathways as a PA

Your career doesn’t have to end at becoming a Physician Associate either. If you take on further training, you could transition into another speciality like surgery, emergency medicine, dermatology, orthopaedics, cardiology, psychiatry, oncology and many others. If you’re a natural-born leader, you could take on a role managing clinical departments, overseeing quality improvement initiatives, participating in policy development or even becoming a teacher yourself. And there’s always the option to join the research space at medical schools, teaching hospitals or other institutions.

Keen to see where you can progress to? Have a look at our MSc Physician Associate degree and other postgraduate courses in healthcare.

Undoubtedly, PAs play a pivotal role in solving some of the NHS's biggest challenges and by training to become one, you can kick start a rewarding career – with possibilities to develop further. The University of Bolton team is on hand to support you if you want to explore your options in healthcare, click here to apply now, phone us on 01204 952 747 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk to start experiencing #UniAsItShouldBe today.