Hughes Syndrome Foundation

Physician assistants

panda60
Posted by panda60
18 Mar 2013
8 comments

Anyone come across physician assistants? There is one at our surgery who started four weeks ago. It is something new apparently. Found out today when I phoned to speak to a doctor and saw her later on for an appointment. Apparently it's something between a doctor and a nurse. Science degree and then two years training. I can see that it is valuable in freeing up doctor's for more complex stuff, but the Question I am asking myself, sceptic that I am, is this DC and his acolytes thinking up another way of saving money on the NHS budget?

Leave a comment    See 8 comments

8 comments

MaryF
MaryF Admin
18 Mar 2013
I think in some areas they are called nurse practitioners. I know I saw one at one point, who picked up straight away on two occasions in the emergency GP clinic, (after school slot), that we did indeed need to see a GP. So.. in our case, it was just another layer to go through, but she seemed sussed. However I also saw one in a hospital setting and I was not at all impressed. Mary F x

Reply to this

panda60
panda60
19 Mar 2013
It is all so confusing. I asked my local pharmacist if she had ever heard of them and she said no. Googled the term and looks like that they've been around in America for a while but only five unis in the UK do thevcourse.Not sure why you'd want to do the training over a five year period when you could do a medical degree in that time and get a higher salary. Definitely smacks of a cost cutting exercise to me.

Reply to this

tiredmum
tiredmum
19 Mar 2013
we have nurse practitioners who you see with for coughs, uti's, asthma, bad throats cuts sprains etc and they are wonderful. we also have a doctors assistant who you see like a normal doctor, unfortunately my daughter ended up in hospital after not recognising that she had a kidney infection and on another occassion the same "doctor" did not recognise shingles either and these to me are still general illnesses. so in my opinion for serious health issues long term etc then see a fully qualified gp

Reply to this

MaryF
MaryF Admin
19 Mar 2013
Agreed! Mary F x

Reply to this

k7pbx
k7pbx
19 Mar 2013
Even though this happens very seldom anymore.Last night I felt good for a couple of hours and my thinking was clear. I gave our son a hug and told him that I loved him... because of the about of times I have had to rewrite this I guess I am back to normal now, so I better go now.

Reply to this

Zezes-nan
Zezes-nan
19 Mar 2013
We have two lovely nurse practitioners at our surgery they deal with the minor stuff and you can usually get an appointment the same day. I had a problem with my eye and saw one of them and becuase she wasn't sure she could one of the senior doctors in to have a look.
So I'm happy to see them but tend to stick to the same GP for my long term conditions (saves having to repeat everything as shes pretty on the ball)

Reply to this

saralee
saralee
25 Mar 2013
I actually had a PA look at my husband and dx him when the regular doctor didn't. Just like doctors and nurses, there are good ones amd not so good ones. BTW, I am in the states.

Reply to this

Mair
Mair
25 Mar 2013
I agree, Saralee, there are good and poor physicians assistants, just as there are good and poor (and even dismal) docs. For basic evaluations and times when my doc is out of office, his pa is an excellent resource because she works closely with him and "knows his mind."

I'm especially supportive of nurse practitioners because their training is more broad and they tend to like to take more time and delve more deeply into concerns.

I think they both definitely have a place in modern medical pracitice, but need to be used appropriately.

Reply to this

Leave a comment

You must be signed-in to leave an answer. Sign in.

Not a HealthUnlocked member? Join today

Guidelines

Content on this site does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Views expressed are those of individuals and not of Hughes Syndrome Foundation.

For the Hughes Syndrome Foundation guidelines please click here

For the general site guidelines please click here

Spread the word!

Invite your friends and followers to find their community on HealthUnlocked!

Recent top bloggers

  1. MaryF MaryF (6 posts)
  2. Jillymo Jillymo (5 posts)
  3. swx3 swx3 (3 posts)
  4. panda60 panda60 (3 posts)
  5. jetjetjet jetjetjet (2 posts)
  6. GinaD GinaD (2 posts)
  7. Lissylou Lissylou (2 posts)

* posts in the last 30 days

HealthUnlocked logo

© 2013 All rights reserved.

Buy SSL
SSL CERTIFICATES - Get Info
Privacy-Policy-By-TRUSTe