Information
Please note that variation of roles differs in surgeries across Mid and South Essex. Please check with your GP’s reception team to find out which roles are available for you to access.
“Hello, my name is Pauline and I’m a Physician Associate working in the NHS.
Physician Associates are trained and qualified to diagnose and treat a wide range of health conditions.
We work alongside your GP and primary care team to provide care to people, particularly those with long-term conditions, who often benefit from being able to see the same healthcare professional.
We can help with diagnosing and tracing health conditions arranging tests and analysing results and performing physical examinations”.
About physician associates in general practice
They work alongside GPs to provide care to people, particularly those with long-term conditions who often benefit from being able to see the same healthcare professional.
What can physician associates help with?
Physicians’ associates can help with lots of things including:
- diagnosing and treating health conditions
- arranging tests and analysing results
- performing physical examinations
How are GPs benefitting?
Physician associates can perform a valuable role as part of the extended primary care team. There is scope for them to take some pressure off GPs by performing some defined clinical tasks and providing patients, especially those with long-term conditions, the continuity of care they need.
How does the role of the physician associate differ from that of a GP?
A physician associate is a new healthcare professional who, whilst not a doctor, works to the medical model. They have the attitude, skills and knowledge base to deliver holistic care and treatment within the general medical and/or general practice team under defined levels of supervision.