A recent review into the role of physician assistants has had a catastrophic effect on their mental health, with some even considering suicide, a survey indicates.
It follows the landmark review of PAs by Gillian Leng, which recommended sweeping changes to the role. These included a name change from physician associates and that PAs must no longer see undifferentiated patients, except within clearly defined protocols.
Concerns over possible job losses,1 uncertainty over the future of the role, and reported hostility towards them among some doctors have prompted concerns about PAs’ mental health.2
In the new survey the PAs’ trade union, United Medical Associate Professionals (UMAPs), asked members about their mental health, using questions from the patient health questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). This self-administered questionnaire is used in NHS talking therapies to screen and measure the …
