Further Information
Physician Associates (PAs) are medically trained, generalist healthcare professionals who work alongside doctors and provide holistic medical care. PAs are dependent practitioners working with a dedicated medical supervisor but can work autonomously with appropriate support. They also work under the supervision of the GP consulting with patients. In the first instance, they will be doing minor illness clinics as seen below but can also conduct home visits if needed. They are not able to prescribe.
Who can Physician Associates see?
PA’s appointments may be booked in by the practice based on if you experience any of the below symptoms when calling up your GP Surgery:
– Coughs/colds/flu like symptoms
– Sore throat/tonsilitis
– Ear pain/hearing loss/tinnitus
– Rashes
– Back pain/joint pains
– Urinary tract infections
– Diarrhoea/constipation
– Vomiting
– Abdominal pain
We have a team of 8 physician associates working within the PCN with more employed directly by individual practices. Our PAs all have life sciences degrees and have passed their postgraduate Physician Associate Studies at university and passed the Physician Associate National Exams. Some of our PAs have other postgraduate qualifications in areas such as neuroscience, clinical chemistry and medical teaching. Others are continuing their lifelong learning by studying for further qualifications at postgraduate and doctorate level. All our PAs are registered on the Faculty of Physician Associates managed voluntary register and will transfer over to the GMC register from December 2024. Our PAs work across all practices within the PCN under the supervision of GPs