UK universities are on the case

doi:10.1136/bmj.b4520

Published 2 November 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b4520
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b4520

Letters

Physician assistants

UK universities are on the case

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Zosia Kmietowicz’s article on physician assistants wasencouraging¹—Ms Allen is an excellent role model. In theUK, a framework defining the role and education of physicianassistants has been developed,² and some 100 students are currentlytraining in four centres, with two more medical schools planningcourses. In 2010, around 55 students should achieve the postgraduatediploma in physician assistant studies and be ready for work.

Physician assistants are not currently registered, but manyclinical professions were not registered until recently, andsome still aren’t. A voluntary register is being established,as a step towards full registration. Although there are worriesthat their introduction might reduce training opportunitiesfor junior doctors, in the US they have provided a stable clinicalworkforce that allows junior doctors in training to focus ontheir educational needs. There are worries that they cannotlearn all that doctors do in only two years. But . . . [Full text of this article]

James V Parle, professor of primary care, Phil Begg

¹ College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham B15 2TT

j.v.parle@bham.ac.uk