The trust has welcomed eight Physician Assistants (PAs) to the medical workforce. Whilst well established in the United States, the PA professional is relatively new the UK. While not a doctor, they work to the medical model, with the attitudes, skills and knowledge to deliver holistic care and treatment.
PAs will help patients access treatment quicker and get them ready for discharge sooner, by taking medical histories; performing examinations; doing ward rounds and keeping medical notes up to date.
PAs are able to see patients independently in their own consultations, but always work under the supervision of a fully trained and experienced doctor and will be mentored by Consultant Physicians.
The PA’s will help our trust meet the demands on our services by redistributing the doctors workload and increasing patients access to care.
Further information about the PA role can be found on the on the UKAPA website www.ukapa.co.uk
For more information contact:
Dr Natalie Powell, Consultant in Acute and Stroke Medicine
E: Natalie.powell@sash.nhs.uk