PAs must not be the first to assess A&E patients, medical college says

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By Erin Dean

Physician assistants in emergency departments must not see undifferentiated patients and are a ‘dependent’ role, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine has said.

PAs, previously known as physician associates, require mandatory direct clinical supervision and patients must be seen by a more senior clinician “first”, the RCEM said in its response to the Leng review into the safety and effectiveness of the roles.