The toxic debate around physician associates threatens to destabilise an already overstretched NHS, says UNISON today (Friday).
Physician associates see and treat patients in hospitals and in the community working under the supervision of a senior doctor. These NHS professionals have been part of the UK’s health workforce for more than 20 years, says the union.
The role of physician associates was among topics debated at UNISON’s annual health conference in Liverpool this week and is also the subject of an ongoing independent review*.
However, the union says some healthcare organisations are stoking fears over patient safety. Their demands to end recruitment of new physician associates and to remove them from GP surgeries are unjustified, says UNISON.
The union says these criticisms are symptomatic of the wider challenges facing the NHS including chronic underfunding, overstretched staff and soaring demand on services.
Physician associates are being disproportionately targeted when the bigger issue is staffing shortages and ensuring all NHS workers get the right support and supervision, says the union.
The General Medical Council has started registering physician and anaesthesia associates and this will be completed by December 2026. At that point registration becomes a statutory requirement for these roles, in a move expected to provide additional assurance for patients.
The union is urging ministers to clarify as a matter of urgency the remit of physician and anaesthesia associates. UNISON is also calling for an end to debates about their existence, which have undermined public confidence and detracted from patient care.
UNISON head of health Helga Pile said: “Scapegoating physician associates is a dangerous distraction from issues in the NHS that desperately need resolving. Years of neglect have left services overstretched, making it difficult to maintain consistently safe and high-quality patient care.
“Physician associates have a wealth of knowledge and experience. Losing them now would be a huge blow to a service that already faces a massive recruitment and retention crisis.
“Constant attacks are damaging wider healthcare teams and patients at a time when the NHS needs all the help it can get.
“The focus must be on all NHS staff working together as a team to boost patient care and tackle lengthy waiting lists.”
Notes to editors:
– Physician associates and anaesthesia associates are healthcare professionals trained to postgraduate level. They undertake medical histories, physical examinations, investigations, diagnoses and treatments within their scope of practice as agreed with a supervising doctor. They have been part of the NHS since 2003.
– *Professor Gillian Leng’s independent review of physician and anaesthesia associates is currently assessing their contribution to NHS teams and patient safety, with the findings expected later this year.
– UNISON’s annual health conference took place at the ACC Liverpool, Kings Dock Street L3 4FP from Monday 7 to Wednesday 9 April. Health workers from across the UK have attended debates on a variety of motions including NHS pay, a greener NHS, bank staff, support for migrant workers, mental health, sexual safety, problems with NHS salary scales and safe staffing.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Dan Ashley M: 07789 518992 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk