Anger over physician associates with barely any training treating NHS patients ... trends now

Trainee physician associates (PAs) are being employed by the NHS to work with patients despite having no medical training, this newspaper has learned.

There are already growing concerns about the escalating use of these 'cut-price medics' – who are supposed to assist doctors and nurses with routine duties after two years' training.

But many are being asked to take on clinical duties which go far beyond their remit, with mounting evidence that this has caused harm to patients and led to misdiagnoses and even deaths.

But The Mail on Sunday has now discovered that the NHS is rolling out 'apprenticeships' for PAs – which means untrained staff are going directly into paying jobs working with patients.

The formal clinical training aspect is set to be completed in their spare time – which mostly involves seminars online.

Documents suggest there could be 200 of these PAs working in the NHS by early 2025.

Doctors last night reacted with horror to the news and said the Government needs to be 'called to account' before patient safety could be further compromised.

'This is a step too far,' says Dr Helen Fernandes, co-chairman of the Doctors' Association. 'It's complete madness. Many patients and doctors will be horrified to learn of these PAs, many of whom will never have set foot in a ward or clinic before. I'm flummoxed as to how anyone might think this could be safe for patients.

'If appropriately supervised and regulated, PAs can support doctors to deliver high-quality, safe care. We'd welcome that.

'But there is also the question of whether patients, who already often don't know they're being treated by someone who isn't a doctor, will be told they may see an apprentice.

'The Government must be called to account, and organisations have

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