Should we know the qualifications of the person who is treating us?

Yes most certainly

I was misdiagnosed by a paramedic at my surgery. Its very difficult to get a real GP appointment in person. We need more GPs.

Forget PAs that's a ticking timebomb. The NHS is chronically short of GOOD doctors. Daughter has been a doctor for 10 years, says that many overseas "doctors" get into the NHS and their "qualifications" and knowledge are far less than the UK trained doctors. And before anyone jumps on the racist bandwagon, this is not about race it's about UK qualifications vs some overseas which are far less rigorous and stringent

Yes ofcourse you have a right to ask if the person treating you is qualified to do so. Where l work, on name badges of staff it states what their position is, ie; consultant, advanced nurse practitioner, etc. If this was done in all medical places, people wouldn't be asking the question, like yourself.

Mollygo

^New figures show over 1,503 extra GPs have been hired through new scheme since 1 October^
But where are they?

.

According to the official data, there are 8071 GB practices in the whole of the UK (as of December 2024).

That's 0.13 extra GPs per practice - or about one extra four hour shift per practice.

New figures show over 1,503 extra GPs have been hired through new scheme since 1 October
But where are they?


.

Who's telling us it's much easier to get an appointment with a GP?

TBH I rarely need an appointment with a GP. Most of my visits to the surgery involve chronic conditions, which I manage myself and ask for advice and/or tests if necessary. I always see the appropriate person, who is usually a nurse, a phlebotomist or a physio.

If I do need to see a GP (as I did when I was worried about a mole which turned out to be skin cancer), I saw a GP within 24 hours of my request. I was referred to secondary care immediately and it was all sorted within weeks.

The one person at my surgery I find to be unsatisfactory is the senior partner, who takes the minimum amount of time, maybe orders a test or a scan, but then never follows up.

M0nica

Mollygo
When were told it’s now much easier to get a doctor’s appointment, is it strictly the truth?
That all depends on your surgery.

I don’t recollect that being part of the deal.

Mollygo

When were told it’s now much easier to get a doctor’s appointment, is it strictly the truth?

That all depends on your surgery.

When were told it’s now much easier to get a doctor’s appointment, is it strictly the truth?

M0nica

The thing that worries me most is that the title and publicity all suggests that PAs are better qualified than nurses and nurse practioners and come somewhere between NP's and doctors, when as I showed in a previous post they are far less well qualified than NP and frankly, despite their 2 years post graduation training they are less knowledgeable and less well trained than the average nurse.

I agree with you. I think there's a real problem with the role. As you know, a report has recently been published and pressure needs to continue to ensure the recommendations are acted on.

It seems to me that it's an idea imported from the American healthcare system. Some bright spark thought it would save money and possibly relieve the pressure on qualified doctors. However, as with all change, you need to consult the stakeholders before anything is implemented and that didn't happen. Nobody thought through what the role would actually entail, how much supervision the new PAs would need and how they would fit into a team etc.

As far as I can see, their role is duplicating what nurse practitioners and specialist nurses are already doing. As you've pointed out, these nurses are better qualified than the PAs and have more responsibility ie they have limited prescribing rights.

Astitchintime

Does this extend to HCA’s then……some of whom are qualified in phlebotomy and cannulation but not all of them are. Do we ask “are you trained to do that” when they approach us with the necessary equipment?

I would hope that HCAs without the necessary training aren't allowed to draw blood or perform cannulation. If that's not the case, it needs to stamped down on harshly. If people have colleagues they know aren't adequately trained for certain procedures, they should report them - and the managers who are recruiting them..

I actually think it would be ridiculous to ask everybody treating us to produce all their qualifications and certificates. That's why we have regulatory bodies. We need to be able to trust them to do their job. If they're not, that needs looking at urgently.

Some doctors aren't very good with needles either! Not as good as many nurses or trained phlobetomists.

Does this extend to HCA’s then……some of whom are qualified in phlebotomy and cannulation but not all of them are. Do we ask “are you trained to do that” when they approach us with the necessary equipment?

Chardy

I thought all surgeries had a list of GPs with their qualifications up on a board prominently displayed. My surgery's website also says in its 'Meet the Team' section, who is a GP and who is a PA

Not all surgeries.

In fact, the one at our surgery rarely works.
It seems to be mostly staffed by nurses now, no Physician Associates as far as I know and only a few part-time GPs.

The thing that worries me most is that the title and publicity all suggests that PAs are better qualified than nurses and nurse practioners and come somewhere between NP's and doctors, when as I showed in a previous post they are far less well qualified than NP and frankly, despite their 2 years post graduation training they are less knowledgeable and less well trained than the average nurse.

I thought all surgeries had a list of GPs with their qualifications up on a board prominently displayed. My surgery's website also says in its 'Meet the Team' section, who is a GP and who is a PA

Allira

Redrobin51

It is very clear on our doctors website who all their staff are and their title. My husband d and I have both seen Senior Nurse practitioners and Physician Associates and have had exemplery care. They made clear before the consultation began who they were and confirmed we were happy to be examined by them. They seemed to have more time to explain things clearly.

But if you phone up to make an appointment to see a GP is it right that you are not told who told until you see the person that they are in fact a nurse?

I can't phone up to make an appointment with a GP. I complete an econsult form and am then contacted, further discussion takes place and I've always been given an appointment with a named person. It's always been with a named GP or nurse, depending what action is to be taken. My practice doesn't have any PAs and I've always felt the appointments I've been given have been appropriate. Maybe I've been lucky.

There are estimated to be 3000 physicians assistants in total, so they are not the reason why any more than the equivalent number of doctors would be without jobs. One of the main reasons is that there are a lot more doctors chasing the attractive specialties than there are posts, while other areas still struggle to recruit. Many work as locums until successful in getting posts in their chosen areas.

You can't always guarantee good treatment from an actual doctor. My daughter has a doctor friend who had been to her own GP several times about her swollen stomach. She was continually reassured that there was nothing wrong. In the end she referred herself to a hospital consultant and had an operation to remove a grapefruit sized cyst.

Redrobin51

It is very clear on our doctors website who all their staff are and their title. My husband d and I have both seen Senior Nurse practitioners and Physician Associates and have had exemplery care. They made clear before the consultation began who they were and confirmed we were happy to be examined by them. They seemed to have more time to explain things clearly.

But if you phone up to make an appointment to see a GP is it right that you are not told who told until you see the person that they are in fact a nurse?

Confession here - I am totally against Physicians Associates (or whatever they are now going to be called). The whole idea needs scrapping. It was never going to work and was just a cost saving exercise in a climate where our newly trained doctors are struggling to find jobs. It is a disgrace.

I agree. The role should be abolished.

Nurse Practitioners are usually very good and professional at what they do, but they are not doctors and should never try to give the impression that they are. One I saw for a first appointment for a joint replacement gave the impression she was a registrar and the Consultant's next-in-line but she failed completely and I suffered extra years of pain because of her.

It's not even true that all PAs have a life science degree. The exam is multiple choice and there is a 100% pass rate.
They are much more used in secondary care than GP surgeries.
There isn't a shortage of doctors, there are unemployed doctors. In August there are 30000 doctors who finish their 2 year foundation and most have no jobs. They will end up going to Australia or leaving medicine after all that training and we are left with PAs.

Redrobin51
That doesn’t happen at every surgery. Certainly there’s a board with all the titles on, but not really clarifying what their qualifications are.
I have seen from my appointment, which initials the person I’m seeing has, but I’ve never been told anything by them, before being treated or asked if I was happy to be treated by them.
One very good experience with a PN and one where her over- reliance on a computer left me feeling unsure about the treatment offered.
One bad experience with a PA which resulted in unsuccessful treatment and a three month wait for an appointment with an actual doctor to organise the correct treatment.

It is very clear on our doctors website who all their staff are and their title. My husband d and I have both seen Senior Nurse practitioners and Physician Associates and have had exemplery care. They made clear before the consultation began who they were and confirmed we were happy to be examined by them. They seemed to have more time to explain things clearly.