Introduction
This Standard Operating Procedure sets out the different requirements for Physician Associate (PAs) working within SevernSide IUC.
PAs are an additional valuable cohort of clinicians to IUC and deliver autonomous medical care. In some circumstances PAs must work in partnership with a registered clinician, this SOP clarifies these processes.
Pas are trained in the medical model and can assess, manage, and treat patients of all ages with a variety of acute undifferentiated and chronic conditions. PAs hold the capability to assess patients presenting with acute or same-day problems as well as those with long term conditions. PAs have a code of conduct and are registered on the Physician’s Associate Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR).
Clinical Support
PAs will have access during shift to a clinical supervisor (nurse, paramedic or GP), this is usually the Clinical Co-ordinator, but may be another clinician either on site or remotely at a Treatment Centre, Osprey or remote working. During the overnight period the PA must be paired with an appropriate experienced clinician to act as a supervisor where required for the PA.
Prescribing
Current legislation does not permit physician associates to sign prescriptions.
PAs working remotely to provide remote advice will work in partnership with a registered, prescribing clinician, usually the Clinical Co-ordinator, to prescribe and generate prescriptions.
Supplying Medicines
PAs could dispense medication at a Treatment Centre, during face-to-face consultations. This must be in partnership and countersigned by a registered clinician at the same base with a prescription recorded for the supply and in accordance with the medicines management policy.
Treatment Centre
Lone working at a Treatment Centre, will be avoided where possible. If this is unavoidable, the Operations Team will close the base for face-to-face visits for the period of time for which the PA is alone.
Home Visits
There will be no home visits allocated to PAs.
Emergency Medication Administration
PAs may be required to administer a medicine in an emergency. These will usually be stat doses. The medication MUST be prescribed by a registered prescriber or given under a PGD by a registered clinician.
The PA administering a medicine in an urgent or emergency situation in the Treatment Centre is responsible for undertaking any monitoring required to assess the effect of the medicine or any adverse reactions and recording the effects in the case record.
Indemnity Insurance
Physician associates require professional indemnity to practice in the UK. State-backed clinical negligence indemnity schemes are automatic registration, however it is strongly encouraged that physician associates have their own personal professional negligence insurance from one of the medical defence organisations listed below.
- Medical Protection Society (MPS),
- Medical Defence Union (MDU)
- Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS)
The governance team should be contacted on brisdoc.governance@nhs.net each time a new PA is employed to ensure that adequate insurance is arranged. This should be completed once the recruitment checks have been completed.
Line Management
PAs will be part of the IUC Nursing & AHP Clinical Team and managed by the Lead Clinical Practitioners.
The level of supervision, support and management will depend on the individual PA and may in some cases involve the Lead GPs, in instances where PAs are working full time for IUC.
Change Register
| Date | Version | Author | Change Details |
| 21/07/2023 | 1.0
|
Fiona Payne & Natalie Raymond | New SOP to outline new process |
| 31/08/2023 | 1.1 | Natalie Raymond | Amendment made to the wording of the indemnity insurance section in accordance with FPARCP guidance. . |