What are Physician Associates?
Physician associates are healthcare professionals who work as part of a multidisciplinary team with supervision from a named senior doctor.
The 2012 Physician Assistant Competency and Curriculum Framework uses the following definition:
A Physician Assistant (PA) is defined as someone who is: a new healthcare professional who, while not a doctor, works to the medical model, with the attitudes, skills and knowledge base to deliver holistic care and treatment within the general medical and/or general practice team under defined levels of supervision.
The role of physician assistant was developed in the USA in the 1960s; there are equivalent roles in many healthcare systems across the world. The first training course in England started at St George’s by 2008, set up by our Dr Nav Chana and colleagues. Cricket Green Medical Practice has employed and trained Physician Associates since then. Dr Katherine Paterson was the senior tutor for the St George’s course until recently and other ex-Cricket Green PAs and PA trainees have gone on to lead other PA courses or teach at St George’s.
Training program
Physician Associates typically have a life science undergraduate qualification (e.g., 3 years biomedical sciences) or other medical experience and training, for example nursing degree.
The course is a 2-year course with both lecture/theoretical work and clinical attachments in GP surgeries, hospital and mental health settings. There are regular written and practical exams and a National Exam that must be completed.
Registration and regulation
Physician Associates at Cricket Green Medical Practice must all be on the managed voluntary register for PAs held by the Faculty of Physician Associates (www.fparcp.co.uk), currently at the Royal College of Physicians, England. A bill to bring regulation under the General Medical Council is passing through parliament currently.
They are subject to a Code of Conduct based on the General Medical Council’s Good Medical Practice. This includes self-assessment of their own competencies. There is also guidance on how to introduce and identify themselves.
Identification
Physician Associates will always introduce themselves as a ‘Physician Associate’ and explain their role as appropriate. All written correspondence, for example referrals, will include their full role.
Cricket Green staff must always let patients know at booking: the name of the clinician they are seeing; their role in full (for example Physician Associate not ‘PA’). Text confirmations for appointments should include this information.
Please click here to view profiles of the Physician Associates working at Cricket Green Medical Practice.
Bethany Aldridge, Physician Associate
BSc (Hons) in Neuroscience, University of Nottingham, graduated 2020
MPAS (Masters of Physician Associate Studies) from St George's University, London, graduated 2023
Qualified as a PA in November 2023 after completing the PANE (Physician Associate National Exams)
Bethany sees patients for long term conditions reviews on Tuesdays and acute/routine appointments on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Bethany is currently supervised by Dr Paterson along with the whole GP team.
Does not see children under 1 year.
Tuba Abdul, Physician Associate
BSc (Hons) in Applied Medical Science, from University College London (2019)
Masters in Physician Associate Studies (MPAS), from St George’s University (2021)
Working days: Monday-Thursday
Under supervision of Dr Otley
Currently, do not see children < 1 year old.