Physician associates must be supervised by GPs, says NHS England

Senior medical directors warn PAs are ‘not substitutes’ for doctors amid fears patients misunderstand their level of qualification

Physician associates (PAs) are “not substitutes” for GPs and must be supervised, NHS England has said.

A new letter to all GP surgeries, primary care network clinical directors, integrated care board chief executives and NHS England regional directors said PAs are “specifically trained to work collaboratively with doctors and others” and all work undertaken by PAs “must be supervised and debriefed with their supervising GP”.