PAs could be given ‘fast-track’ route to becoming doctors
The Government will consider a ‘fast-track training route’ for current physician associates (PAs) who want to become doctors, following a recommendation made in the Leng review.
Professor Gillian Leng’s independent review into the safety and effectiveness of the roles argued that a ‘dedicated’ fast-track training route for the current cohort of PAs ‘who may wish to retrain as doctors’ should be considered, with the aim of retaining ‘motivated staff’ within the NHS.
The review, published this morning, determined that PAs should be renamed physician assistants, and that they should be more thoroughly trained and not see undifferentiated patients.
The Department of Health and Social Care has overall responsibility for implementation of the recommendations set out in the report, after the Government confirmed earlier today that it has accepted all recommendations from the review.
Professor Leng said that the contrast between the training of doctors and the training of PAs is ‘undoubtedly’ one of the reasons why the debate around the roles ‘has become so impassioned’.
But she said that many PAs are ‘keen’ to have opportunities to progress and that the roles have attracted ‘highly committed individuals’.
She said: ‘While doctors have lengthy training, antisocial hours and numerous exams and assessments, PAs have stability, much shorter training and an ability to become a known, supported member of the team.
‘These new professions have attracted highly committed individuals into healthcare, and many will acknowledge that the shorter training and better working conditions influenced their career choice.
‘But there are also career challenges facing PAs, in particular the ability to develop and take on new responsibilities within a recognised structure for career development. Many are keen to have opportunities for progression and to take on new skills and functions.’
The review also recommended that physician assistants should have the opportunity to become an ‘advanced physician assistant’, which should be one Agenda for Change band higher and developed in line with national job profiles.
It added: ‘However, career progression beyond the Advanced level is not anticipated, as the PA role is limited to working collaboratively and supportively with a doctor.
‘Future consideration of a dedicated route from PA to doctor for those who might wish to consider this step may be beneficial.’
PAs should have the opportunity for ‘ongoing training and development’ in the context of a formal certification, including the ability to take on added responsibilities such as the potential to prescribe and order non-ionising radiation, the review added.
A ‘permanent faculty’ should be established to provide ‘professional leadership’ for PAs, with standards for training and credentialling set by medical royal colleges or the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.
It said: ‘Strong links between the medical profession and PAs are essential to developing the role in a way that is collaborative, supportive and builds mutual understanding.
‘The role of the faculty should be to set standards for PAs and provide training and credentialling, with support and agreement from the medical royal colleges.
‘The faculty will require a host organisation, similar to that provided for other faculties within medical royal colleges.
‘Whatever the model, it is important to retain a strong link with the relevant colleges in relation to standard setting, training and credentialling.’
The review also said that all changes ‘should be delivered as soon as practically possible’, with consideration of specific areas outlined in its recommendations.
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READERS' COMMENTS [1]
Please note, only GPs are permitted to add comments to articles
Despite the bad press, my physician associate (soon to be assistant) is absolutely Doctor material and we are really sad to need to keep the reins tight so they can’t take on extra levels of activity and responsibility that they would be capable of. We have been keeping them to the job description similar to the Leng report appendix. This would be a perfect solution as they were post-grad self funded to get into a PA role and to retrain as a Doctor would be really hard to fund on the ARRS PA payscale when they have already studied along side medical students for their training