Restricting NHS Physician Associates After Misdiagnoses

A recent government review has recommended that NHS physician associates (PAs) be prohibited from diagnosing patients who have not already been seen by a doctor, following concerns over patient safety and high-profile misdiagnoses. The review, commissioned by Health Secretary Wes Streeting after six patient deaths, assessed the roles of over 3,500 PAs and 100 anaesthesia associates (AAs) in NHS England. Prof. Gillian Leng, leading the review, found that while the roles themselves need not be abolished, their current use—often as substitutes for doctors—poses risks due to their significantly shorter training. Key recommendations include restricting PAs from seeing undifferentiated or untriaged patients, introducing standardized clinical protocols, renaming PAs and AAs to clarify their position, and requiring supervision by a named doctor. Newly qualified PAs should start in hospitals for two years before moving to GP or mental health roles. The report also calls for leadership training for supervising doctors, standardized uniforms and badges, and better career development for PAs and AAs. British medical leaders criticized NHS England for inadequate oversight, insufficient national standards, and role ambiguity, emphasizing the urgent need for clearer definitions and robust supervision to protect patients.

Hall, R. (2025, July 16). NHS physician associates should not diagnose untriaged patients, review finds. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/16/physician-associates-banned-from-diagnosing-untriaged-patients-report