Physician associates (PAs) are medically trained, generalist healthcare professionals who work alongside doctors to provide medical care. PAs are an integral part of the multidisciplinary team and work under the supervision of a named senior doctor (a General Medical Council registered consultant or general practitioner), to provide high quality care to patients in primary, secondary and community care environments.

Do and be more

Physician associates work within a defined scope of practice and limits of competence. Their roles and responsibilities include:

• Taking medical histories.
• Performing physical examinations.
• Requesting and interpreting diagnostic tests.
• Diagnosing illnesses.
• Managing patients with long term illnesses.
• Performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
• Developing and delivering appropriate treatment and management plans.
• Health promotion and disease prevention advice.

Career opportunities

After qualifying as a PA you can expect to begin work as a Band 6 or 7. You will be part of an emerging UK profession, supported by the NHS and the Department of Health, and will follow a career path with proven success in the United States.

As a graduate PA, you will help to increase the numbers of the medical workforce and improve access to quality care for patients. You will act in an enabling role, helping to reduce the healthcare team’s workload. You will bring new talent to the NHS and add to the skill mix within the teams.

While trainee doctors and surgeons rotate through different specialties, PAs offer continuity of care for patients as well as institutional memory for the team in which they work. A PA also provides cover so that trainee doctors and surgeons can attend training, clinic or theatre.