New guidance on use of physician associates

The Royal College of Physicians, which has members across the UK, says the interim guidance announced on Tuesday should take effect at once – ahead of the health secretary’s official review.

It states that a supervising clinician should be “immediately available in the same clinical environment to provide advice to the PA and, if required, an immediate in-person review of a patient”.

This goes further than more general guidelines from NHS England, which require PAs only to be directed and overseen by a senior doctor.

The Royal College guidance is advisory, and designed to give members clarity over what is appropriate for their role and what employers can reasonably ask them.

Some resident doctors (formerly known as junior doctors) have complained that they are expected to monitor the work of PAs, and that these clinicians have taken on tasks traditionally done by doctors.