HEALTH SECRETARY Jeremy Hunt caused alarm yesterday over his plans to expand the number of people working as so-called physician associates (PAs). 

Mr Hunt has claimed the use of more PAs — usually science graduates who have undergone two years of intensive training — to perform certain medical duties will ease the pressure on doctors.

He told the Times newspaper: “The NHS is treating record numbers of people. That’s why we are growing the workforce further with a new class of medic so busy doctors have more time to care for patients.”

PAs already work in hospitals in the Midlands, London, Weston-super-Mare, Bristol, and parts of Scotland, and new training courses are due to begin next month at the University of Worcester and University of Wolverhampton.

Mark Porter of the British Medical Association said the new medics could be useful, but added that PAs should not be used as a way of replacing doctors.

“Physician assistants can be a valued part of the NHS and, as long as the scope of what they do is clear, they can provide an intermediate level of care and help reduce workload pressures,” he said.

“It’s important that all healthcare professionals, including doctors, are clear about the limits on the care they are able to provide, and work within them.

“Only doctors can provide certain types of care so the government need to ensure that standards won’t be affected by these changes and the quality of patient care will be protected and maintained. It’s also important that these new posts do not erode training opportunities for junior doctors, or undermine the vital role they play in delivering care.” 

But London Health Emergency director John Lister was more scathing in his assessment of the proposal.

“Would Jeremy Hunt be happy to be seen by one of these assistants?” he asked. 

“If you are seriously ill and you are looking for a medical opinion and are told that the doctor is busy but his assistant is available, would you be happy with that? The reason people go to see doctors is because they are properly trained to spot things that other people can’t.

“This is further down skilling of the NHS. If the government was really concerned they would stop the cuts to the NHS and invest in properly trained doctors.”