PAs: BMA raises concerns over unsafe working practices at Plymouth hospital

The BMA has accused University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust of unsafe and unprofessional practice and raised “serious concerns” about the trust’s working arrangements between resident doctors and physician associates (PAs).1

Writing to the trust, BMA chair of council Philip Banfield criticised a leaked departmental email, where doctors the trust were told to “prescribe all necessary medications” for physician associates, as well as requesting imaging and other investigations on their behalf.

In the communication to a ward medical team from a senior department figure at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, resident doctors were told to organise an informal rota for signing off prescriptions and imaging requests from a PA. The email said residents should be proactive in asking the permanent PA whether they have investigations or imaging to request, adding that PAs couldn’t prescribe, owing to a “variety of issues.”

PAs are not authorised under UK law to prescribe prescription only drugs,2 something clearly stated in General …