Physician associates (PAs) are healthcare professionals who work under the supervision of a doctor within multi-disciplinary teams. They are not doctors.

PAs usually start out as health professionals or university graduates with biomedical science or life science degrees. They then complete two years of further education and training to gain a PA qualification.

As of December 2024, the General Medical Council began regulating Physician Associates. The Faculty of Physician Associates has now been dissolved and as of December 2026 it will be mandatory for all Physician Associates to be registered with the GMC, although it was advised that PA’s register as soon as possible.

Physician Associates can be employed within primary care under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) and there are over 100 PA’s employed in the Birmingham and Solihull area. See link below for full details of ARRS scheme. According to the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES), when employed via the ARRS, the employer must ensure the PA has the following key responsibilities:

• Provide first point of contact care for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems by utilising history-taking, physical examinations and clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan in partnership with the patient (and their carers where applicable)

• Support the management of patient’s conditions through offering specialised clinics following appropriate training including (but not limited to) family planning, baby checks, COPD, asthma, diabetes, and anticoagulation

• Provide health/disease promotion and prevention advice, alongside analysing and actioning diagnostic test results

• Develop integrated patient-centred care through appropriate working with the wider primary care multi-disciplinary team and social care networks;

• Utilise clinical guidelines and promote evidence-based practice and partake in clinical audits, significant event reviews and other research and analysis tasks

• Participate in duty rotas; undertaking face-to-face, telephone, and online consultations for emergency or routine problems as determined by the PCN, including management of patients with long-term conditions.

• Undertake home visits when required; and

• Develop and agree a personal development plan (PDP) utilising a reflective approach to practice, operating under appropriate clinical supervision

The GMC has stated that while the official regulator for PA’s, they will not be setting/creating a scope of practice. This is to be determined by the employer.

As PA’s are dependent practitioners, there must always be a GP supervisor available to support with any queries / issues that may arise. Please see our Clinical supervision page for information on supervising PA’s. Below are links to the GMC guidance on supporting and supervising PA’s in primary care.