What is a Physician Associate?

Physician Associates are new healthcare professionals who, while not a doctor, work 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.

A task and finish group was established consisting of Physician Associates, Faculty of Physician Associates, SPGs, LETBs and St Georges University who provide training for PA students to achieve the following:

• Determine existing work to date and current progress
• Facilitate engagement across London to establish a consistent career pathway across the capital
• Standardise existing versions of job descriptions
• Define supporting material & case study for implementation

They have developed the downloadable information pack on physician associates that covers:

• International development and national drivers
• Role of Physician Associates in Primary Care and Case Studies
• Becoming a Physician Associate
• Evidence Base for Physician Associates
• Standardising the approach across London to Physician Associates including Standardised Job Descriptions and career pathways for London
• Value proposition for funding Physician Associates

Other resources

Watch how Physician Associates are supporting primary care: Physician associates are making an impact at Swiss Cottage Surgery. Watch Physician Associate Raj Gill talking about his role and Dr Phillip Smith talking about how they’re supporting the practice and improving patient care.

Visit the Faculty of Physician Associates website: The Faculty of Physician Associates supports and promotes the development of the PA profession in the UK by combining profession, regulation, assessment, accreditation and Continued Professional Development (CPD). It is also links with other Royal Colleges (RCS, RCGP, RCEM, RCPaeds) involved in the acute sector.