The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) made reference to its members survey when changing its position on the role of physician associates (PAs) in general practice, 123 which is regrettable, as it represents poor evidence informed decision making. The response rate of the survey was approximately 10% of the college’s membership, and 40% of all respondents had never worked with PAs. A third of respondents were GP trainees, who would never have had the experience of taking clinical responsibility for another healthcare professional.My practice has been training PA students since 2017. In my 16 years as a full time GP partner (nine clinical sessions a week), I have seen major errors that affected patient health or wellbeing made by GP partners, salaried GPs, locum GPs, GP registrars, advanced nurse practitioners, practice nurses, healthcare assistants, clinical pharmacists, social prescribers, and PAs. We have never employed a paramedic, but it would…
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