University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) supports the physicians associate (PA) programme at University of Birmingham (UoB) by providing clinical placements for medicine, surgery, acute, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and selected careers experience modules.
PAs are healthcare professionals with a generalist medical education who work alongside doctors and surgeons providing medical care as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team. PAs work under the supervision of a doctor but can work autonomously with appropriate support.
The role of the PA is fairly new and has been evolving, with the General Medical Council recently agreeing to host registration of this role. This means PAs will play a more important role in supporting doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients in the future.
Last reviewed: 17 June 2021