This conference focuses on supporting and developing Physician Associates and ensuring patient safety, accountability and effective supervision of the role. The conference is timely as the role of physician associates (PAs) has been a topic of controversy and discussion in recent months following high profile cases where patient safety has been compromised. The British Medical Association has argued that the public do not understand the role leading to confusion between Physician Associates and Doctors stating that “87% of doctors said the way PAs and AAs currently work in the NHS was always or sometimes a risk to patient safety”. It is therefore critical for the Physician Associates themselves, and for the doctors that are supervising them that effective supervision and education is in place to ensure Physicians Associates are operating within their scope of practice and ensuring high quality care and patients safety.
Through national updates and practical case studies the conference will enable you to understand the role, the benefits and practical implications in practice for deployment in your service. The conference will discuss supporting physician associates, accountability and supervision of Physician Associates in practice and will include case studies from Acute, Mental Health and Primary Care settings. The event will reflect on patient safety concerns and outline the PA responsibilities and limits of practice with regard to medications and prescribing both now and moving forward. There will be an update regulation including registration requirements for Physician Associates.
“Physician associates (PAs) work as valued members of the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) to deliver effective and efficient healthcare, helping to improve continuity of care and expand patient access to health services. PAs are trained to examine, diagnose and treat patients under the supervision of doctors. With careful workforce and service planning based on local needs, PAs can support the delivery of effective and efficient medical services across the wider health system. PAs are not doctors, and cannot and must not replace doctors... PAs must always work within a defined scope of competence; they are not independent medical practitioners and must be supervised appropriately by doctors. Employers must ensure that the supervision of PAs is never to the detriment of doctors, and patients must always receive clear and accurate information about who is treating them and making decisions about their care.”
NHS England Position on Physician Associates 7th February 2024
“We welcome this significant milestone towards becoming the regulator of physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs). We now continue our work towards bringing these valuable professions into regulation by the end of 2024.‘PAs and AAs are vital members of multidisciplinary teams and practise across the UK to complement the work of doctors. We know that better supported teams, and more manageable workloads, lead to better patient care. The development of these roles should help the health service deal with ongoing pressures.””
GMC December 2023
“The Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA) welcomes the outcome of the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order (AAPAO) debate that took place in the House of Lords yesterday (Monday 26 February 2024). The debate raised several important topics in relation to the physician associate (PA) profession. Following the debate, the House of Lords approved the draft Order that will bring PAs and anaesthesia associates (AA) into regulation. This can now be made law.. This is a pivotal point in our journey and promotes the most important element in PA practice – patient safety.”
The Faculty of Physician Associates 27th February 2024
This conference will enable you to:
Network with colleagues working to develop the role of the Physician Associate
Reflect on the evidence of clinical impact and improvements in patient experience
Learn from established practice and case studies of the Physician Associate role
Reflect on patient safety, accountability and effective supervision of the PA role
Improve the relationships and ways of working between Physician Associates and the Multidisciplinary team
Understand and reflect on current challenges in training, education, competence and accountability
Prescribing Rights – understand current issues and limitations of practice
Reflect on the recent high profile cases and what can be learned in terms of clinical supervision and ensuring patient safety
Reflect on the barriers and facilitators to integration of Physician Associates into the clinical team?
Update your knowledge on national developments including Physician Associate Regulation
Understand what support Physician Associates can provide
Ensure clear guidance around limitations of practice including prescribing (and how this might change with regulation)
Identify key strategies for effective Clinical Supervision
Examine your role in supporting Physician Associates
Learn from experienced Physician Associates in a diverse clinical areas
Self assess and reflect on your own practice
Supports CPD professional development and acts as revalidation evidence. This course provides 5 Hrs training for CPD subject to peer group approval for revalidation purposes
