Doctors hit out at medical regulator for dismissing risks that ‘cut-price’ medics are putting patients in danger

Doctors have hit out at the medical regulator for dismissing concerns that ‘cut-price’ medics called physician associates (PAs) are putting patients in danger.

The Government said that over the next 15 years it would recruit 10,000 PAs – who are given two years’ healthcare training so they can assist doctors and nurses.

However, the move is opposed by hundreds of doctors, as well as the British Medical Association, following cases where PAs have made mistakes leading to the death or serious injury of patients.

The General Medical Council (GMC) is soon expected to publish guidelines on how it will regulate PAs – currently they cannot be held responsible for their mistakes. But the MoS can reveal the GMC believes concerns over PAs will ‘dissipate over time’.

The claim was made by a GMC employee during a meeting in May and became public following a Freedom of Information request.

An employee suggested the GMC reconsider its ‘communication strategy’ after the high-profile death of Emily Chesterton, 30, (pictured) who died when a PA dismissed her blood clot symptoms as anxiety

During the same meeting, an employee suggested the GMC reconsider its ‘communication strategy’ after the high-profile death of Emily Chesterton, 30, who died when a PA dismissed her blood clot symptoms as anxiety.

Doctors believe the remarks reveal the GMC does not take the risk seriously. ‘PAs are a risk to patient safety, so it is alarming that the GMC believes doctors’ worries will disappear,’ says Dr Matt Kneale, co-chairman of Doctors’ Association UK. ‘Our concerns will not go away.’

A GMC spokesman said: ‘PAs are an important part of the health system. Regulation of these roles will play a vital role in keeping patients safe.’