@StGeorgesUni
Being a PA isn’t a protected characteristic. Stop co-opting the language of people who experience genuine discrimination with (rightful) criticism of the PA role and how it is being utilised.
@IncogAssociate
It is right to call out the inappropriate use of poorly trained substitutes taking on doctor’s roles. If PAs find their role being questioned distressing then that’s on PA leadership.
Putting in vexatious complaints about someone raising these concerns is entirely different.
@moribunddr
Interesting how many non-medical HCWs are happy taking on doctors’ roles (on doctors’ rotas, holding specialty bleeps etc.) but seem to vanish into the ether when a discharge letter needs completed.
@HelenCocks5
@fessdoc
@ENT_UK
Speaking of “unconsidered” - this looks to be an official ENTUK document - were the contents agreed and signed off by the exec committee/trustees/council including a PA being referred to as “the best SHO we’ve ever had” and referring to a “rotating carousel of junior doctors”?
@IncogAssociate
Hierarchy is always an issue until something goes wrong and then it’s “doctor informed”.
We should all demand the highest standards when it comes to who cares for us and our loved ones - if that makes me elitist and protectionist then so be it.
@timricketts_
I brought this up in the 🧵 yesterday - it was almost funny seeing the same consultants who shouted junior doctors down/dismissed concerns re the “registrar equivalent” ACP role but were outraged at the consultant ACP/EPIC equivalent which appeared shortly afterwards.
@iDrSunny
The insult to state that FY1s even at the end of their first year of training aren’t level with PAs and that PAs are somehow more competent than specialist registrars at the start of their training. Shame on the
@RCPhysicians
and their Clin Med Journal for publishing this drivel.
@pepemac27
“Other members of the team may become frustrated”
Other members of the team are welcome to help write the discharges then or is that a “medical task” that non-doctors are reluctant to take on?
@NHSHandSan
Agreed. It is infuriating and bad faith arguments when people equate an unbanded PA 9-5 salary vs a CT1 salary of 48 hours per week + nights + weekends + late cover. I’m yet to see any of the pro-PA folk successfully justify it either.
@parthaskar
@AskJeevesWij
I can fully envisage the next generation of doctors just refusing to train or supervise PAs/AAs. If the next steps aren’t carefully managed there’s going to be a complete interprofessional breakdown and two tiered healthcare.
@IncogAssociate
@gmcuk
@rcgp
The RCGP isn’t under any obligation to facilitate the employment of PAs though. It’s not bullying to deny you and your colleagues the dreams, job plan and scope you were (mis)sold by PA leadership and their enablers. Take it up with them.
@drmattuk
So grateful to you and a few other accounts who were brave enough to raise their head above the parapet at a time when the majority of medtwitter were trying to gaslight/threaten work + GMC referrals for raising concerns - the silence from these people now is staggering.
@Roddy_Neilson
Much like the “senior” PA (no one has yet explained to me what or how one becomes a senior PA) lecturer who disables comments on every post.
@silvervoicesuk
I still fail to see how a delay in a discharge letter is a sign of ageist attitudes in the NHS? Have you ever shadowed a junior doctor or any idea regarding their workload?
@AlexPanton1
@Matt_Bodell
Hi Alex, I see these are some of the tweets that you’ve liked over the past week including one referring to striking junior doctors and consultants as “scum” by Kelvin McKenzie - something you want to get off your chest?
@TAkbar
@ShaunLintern
Are your patients specifically consented that their “advanced procedure” is being performed by a physician associate (an unregulated professional) and not a doctor?
@LukeAmos__
Perhaps a small advantage of PAs/AAs being regulated soon is that they might stop being so liberal with GMC referral threats when they in turn can get referred and they see the impact it causes.
@Dr_Done_
I joined Twitter/X in 2022 and was shocked at the behaviour of these accounts (who ironically would behave in the same manner they criticise anon accounts for) - threats to employers/bullying/QTs and tagging their “allies” to instigate pile ons. The silence now is deafening.
@VirtueOfNothing
Non-doctors arguing against medical primacy are more than welcome to accept equal responsibility/complaints when something goes wrong/harm occurs/closely avoided. The buck has to stop somewhere.
@Xeon4f145d96s1
Also important to highlight that many of these accounts partook in the same behaviours that they criticise anon accounts for - QTs to instigate pile ons/tagging likeminded accounts for the same purpose, threatening to inform employers/GMC etc. The silence now is staggering.
@ishsulin
@moribunddr
Exactly - it’s a complete lack of insight into the workload of doctor that they’re no doubt harassing, as well as a failure to recognise that interruptions/“friendly” reminders just cause further delays and increase the risk of errors.
@anonPA5
@drmattuk
I don’t think as a PA you’re qualified or able to judge who is struggling with their role of being a doctor since you’re *checks notes* not a doctor yourself.
@Roddy_Neilson
@drcolinm
I’m torn whether it is just sheer incompetence or whether there is a more malicious purpose to all of this (devaluing British medical degree ➡️ creating a captive workforce of “associates” and “practitioners”).
@isitsleepytime
@hkg294
💯%. Some PAs who previously justified their starting salary on the basis of “limited progression/wage stagnation” are now pushing for career progression and increased scope - e.g. “I don’t want to be doing FY1 jobs forever”.
@CheGuevera27
@doctor_dru_
@therawlucy
Hierarchies are undesirable until something goes wrong and then we see the people who want to flatten them become their biggest proponents.
@IncogAssociate
@ExNHSorthopod
@gmcuk
Respectfully, how can you enforce appropriate utilisation when the GMC has stated that it’s up to individual trusts to define scope. This is what has lead and will lead to eg PAs on registrar/consultant rotas, PAs holding tertiary centre referral pages etc.
@jamessumnerNHS
@Xeon4f145d96s1
@LivHospitals
Respectfully, I hope part of the “looking into” process will include consequences for and actions taken against the person or group of people who decided to unilaterally ban junior doctors from accessing a kitchen, drinking water and toilets on their shifts? 1/
@LordPhilofBrum
PAs also need to accept personal responsibility and criticism if they accept roles or duties beyond their training (occupying spots in registrar rotas, holding specialty bleeps etc). I agree that trusts should absolutely be criticised for misusing them, however.
@ElshadKarbasi
@Xeon4f145d96s1
Likewise when “management” refuse to source a locum or pay locum rates when there is a gap and just expect the already rostered doctors to absorb the extra work.
@NotAdoctor0000
@VishwajeetP4t3l
Still remember the days of “we’ll write another letter to the Health Secretary to let him know about how jolly well cross we are” being the limit of what the BMA did for its members.
@DrLindaDykes
Yes - I asked a respiratory sister this very Q last October who was pontificating about much more “useful and knowledgeable” PAs were compared to junior doctors - never got an answer…
@ShayanAshjaei
@RobLaurensonD4P
Personal attacks and abuse are absolutely unacceptable, however, no person or profession is above criticism or satire. Threats of GMC referrals for voicing the latter two do not reflect well on you or your colleagues.
@stephenrhughes
@Burnt2020
@FrankCoffey26
@davehartin
This occurred on X maybe 1-2 years ago. There was discussion regarding a job advert re a “reg equivalent ACP” (not dissimilar). Several consultants dismissed and shouted down the concerns. Same consultants were outraged when a consultant equiv ACP advert appeared days later.
@NHSHandSan
💯 not asking for anyone to be paid less. It’s just scandalous that doctors’ pay has eroded so much.
I mean more people who justify it on basis of “wage stagnation” and “lack of progression” as factors in the salary disparity when we see now PAs pushing for career progression.
@ABarotchi1
@mouseter_chef
@timricketts_
I think some of the people pushing for this also have significant COIs (have started MSc courses in advanced practice, honorary academic positions on said Advanced Practice courses, “lead consultant for ACPs” - presumably getting additional SPA time or for CEA points).
@timricketts_
It would also be helpful to know whether this is Dr Clarke’s personal opinion or the official stance of the
@RCPhysicians
@RCPLondon
if she is making these statements in her capacity as President.
@HarryHo26956660
@Roddy_Neilson
Warfarin - Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation + arin I think reflects related to coumarin.
Nystatin - New York State Health department.
@puppy_paw_shinn
@medicalmodelbri
@UMAPsUK
Exactly. Waiting on all the “nice, sensible PAs who don’t believe they’re doctor equivalents” that we keep being told about calling this nonsense out.
Tumbleweed currently.
@Bonivorlewis
@RobLaurensonD4P
Will be interesting if the BMA issue guidance on supervision/training of MAPs and how that will stand. Can envisage the next generation of consultants/GPs/SAS Drs etc just refusing to supervise or train them.