Britain's biggest GP body votes to ban controversial 'cut-price medics' known as physician associates

Britain's biggest GP body has voted to ban physician associates (PAs) from working in practices.

It follows months of vocal concern by medics over the NHS 's growing reliance on so-called 'cut-price medics', which has been linked to three deaths.

These staff members do not go to medical school and instead do two years of post-graduate training on top of a degree in a subject like biomedical sciences.

The College — which represents 50,000-plus GPs — said almost two thirds of voters agreed to oppose PAs from working in surgeries.

The NHS employs more than 3,500 PAs in England and plans to increase this to 10,000 by 2036. Around 2,000 currently work in general practices across the country.

The RCGP's decision today to ban PAs comes just weeks after a survey by college found more than 80 per cent believe the use of PAs in general practices has a negative impact on patient safety.

The 'disturbing' results also showed half respondents reported 'being aware of specific examples of patient safety being compromised by the work of PAs', including instances of misdiagnosis and inappropriate prescribing.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said today: 'It became very clear at today's Council discussion that we needed to speak out in opposition to the PA role within a general practice setting.

'I am pleased that our processes have enabled us to do this in a collegiate and democratic way.'

First introduced in 2003, a PA's role currently allows them to take medical histories, perform physical examinations, analyse test results and make diagnoses.

But they should always work under supervision.

PAs are not allowed to prescribe drugs or refer patients for procedures.

However, several high-profile cases of harm coming to patients following consultation by PAs have recently hit headlines, including three deaths.

In 2022, actress Emily Chesterton, 30, died of a blood clot after a PA dismissed her symptoms as anxiety and gave her pills instead of directing her to A&E.

She wrongly believed she had been seen by a GP at her surgery in North London but had twice been seen by an associate.

The GP practice where Ms Chesterton was seen, the Vale Practice in Crouch End, has since stopped employing PAs.

Her parents are now warning of the dangers patients can face amid plans to expand their roles.

Norman Jopling, 79 from North London, suffered a serious brain bleed after a PA mistakenly told him that his painful headaches were nothing to worry about.

His wife Maureen later accused the NHS of 'trying to cut corners' by allowing PAs to carry out 'complicated tasks they're not qualified to perform'.

In the past year there have also been reports of PAs requesting prescriptions, discharging patients from hospital without a sign-off from a doctor, and even taking part in brain surgery.

In February, Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Brinton told a House of Lords debate that doctors had reported '70 instances of avoidable patient harm and near misses caused by PAs', including 'fatalities, missed diagnoses causing terminal diseases, sepsis and heart attacks'.

Earlier this year, doctors union the British Medical Association (BMA) also called for PAs to be barred from diagnosing patients.

It said PAs must be seen as 'an assistant role to doctors' helping with simple practical procedures, administrative tasks, and working with patients in a supportive and specified role.

They should also never perform complex or life-threatening procedures or be put on doctors' rotas.