Physician Associates (PAs) may work within your surgery as part of the wider healthcare team, supporting GPs and other clinicians to provide high-quality patient care.
They are healthcare professionals who have completed a postgraduate qualification in medical sciences and work under the supervision of a named GP.
Their role may include:
- Taking medical histories and discussing your symptoms.
- Carrying out physical examinations.
- Assessing, diagnosing, and managing a wide range of common health conditions.
- Supporting patients with long-term health conditions.
- Requesting and interpreting appropriate diagnostic tests, where within their scope of practice.
- Performing certain diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
- Developing management plans in partnership with you and the wider healthcare team.
- Providing advice on disease prevention, healthy lifestyles, and health promotion.
Physician Associates work closely with GPs and other members of the practice team to ensure patients receive timely and appropriate care. They will seek advice from or refer to a GP whenever necessary, particularly if your condition is more complex or requires treatment outside their scope of practice.
The way Physician Associates are used may vary between surgeries, depending on the needs of the local patient population and practice team.