Physician associates ‘should be banned from diagnosing patients'
The review examined six patient deaths that coroners' reports had directly linked to physician associates (PAs).
The report's author said misdiagnosing patients and giving them the wrong treatment plan was 'catastrophic'.
The review found there was 'inconclusive' evidence that physician associates were safely deployed in the NHS, but equally none to suggest it was so unsafe that the role should be abolished.
It said the role should be renamed as 'physician assistant' to reduce confusion among the public who have often mistaken them for doctors.
The review proposes giving all NHS staff, including the renamed physician assistants, their own uniforms and lanyards that clearly state their job, because of the vast range of roles operating within the health service, and a tendency for PAs to wear doctors' scrubs and stethoscopes.
The recommendations make up part of an independent review of PAs and anaesthesia associates (AAs) by Prof Gillian Leng, the president of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, ordered the review last year after a series of scandals involving PAs either causing patient harm or death, practising beyond what they are qualified to do, or being used in place of doctors.
Doctors have also criticised the NHS plans to increase the around 3,500 PAs employed to more than 10,000 as an attempt to replace them.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
a few seconds ago
- BBC News
NHS urge young people to get HPV jab to protect against cancer
The NHS is urging hundreds of thousands of people yet to have the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to get protected against cervical and other practices will send invitations via letters, emails, texts and the NHS App to patients aged 16-25 whose records show they did not get it in June, government data found inequalities in vaccine uptake in different regions in 2023-2024, with the lowest rate seen in London for both female and male year 10 vaccine is offered each year to boys and girls aged 12 to 13 to help protect them against catching the infection which causes nearly all cervical cancers and is linked to mouth, throat, anus, penis and vagina cancers. 'Get protected' According to NHS England data, in the past three years more than 418,000 children left school unvaccinated for HPV – and there are believed to be many others aged 16-25 who were not vaccinated at bosses want to reach as many as possible, under plans to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 - set out in the recently published 10 Year Health NHS aims to increase uptake among girls to 90% by 2040, while also increasing the number of women getting cervical vaccine can also be given to those up to age 45 with immune-compromised conditions and to men who have sex with other England added that the latest HPV vaccine, introduced in England in 2021, was proven to be more effective – and in the long term is predicted to reduce cases of women's cancer by 16% and HPV-attributable deaths by 9%, compared with the previous in England have shown that the HPV vaccine stops 90% of cervical cancer Amanda Doyle, from NHS England, said: "Too many lives are lost to cervical cancer so the hard work of NHS staff across the country in vaccinating and screening as many people as possible will help us to meet our ambition of wiping out this disease."Encouraging progress has been made recently in increasing uptake but we know there is much more to do."Dr Sharif Ismail, from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: "We know that uptake of the HPV vaccination in young people has fallen significantly since the pandemic, leaving many many thousands across the country at greater risk of HPV-related cancers. "We're calling on all parents to return their children's HPV vaccination consent forms promptly."For young adults up to age 25, who missed their school vaccinations, please speak to your GP about catch-up options. It's never too late to get protected."
The Sun
a few seconds ago
- The Sun
Woman on Mounjaro warns people to ‘NEVER go cold turkey' after revealing brutal side effects when she had supply issues
A WOMAN has shared the brutally honest truth about what happened when she was forced to ''go cold turkey'' from Mounjaro. Content creator Freya has been using the fat jab to help manage her weight. 3 3 However, in a recent post, the young TikToker revealed she had to temporarily stop the popular medication while waiting for a new pen to arrive — and the effect was immediate. Mounjaro is regarded by some as the King Kong of weight loss jabs. Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams acknowledged that Mounjaro, which has been rolled out on the NHS, can save the lives of people with 'life-threatening levels of obesity.' But despite this, the NHS warned: 'Never take an anti-obesity medicine if it has not been prescribed to you. "These types of medicines may not be safe for you and can cause serious side effects.' About half a million Brits use weight loss drugs - and the number is expected to double in the next year. Mounjaro works by suppressing your appetite, making people feel fuller for longer. The injections are licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes and to assist those who are clinically obese (with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over). One jab is administered each week but the duration is dependent on someone's weight. The now-viral video, which has racked up more than an astronomical 1.1million views, shows Freya demolishing a stacked cheeseburger. I went on fat jabs but the hair loss was unbelievable so I quit - I'd rather be chubby with hair than skinny and bald ''Take this as a sign to NEVER go cold turkey from Mounjaro,'' she wrote. ''I would have done very sinister things for this burger. ''My hunger is out of control - I want to punch everyone who is not food in the face.'' In the comments, Freya, who posts under the username @ freyatheblondieee, explained: ''Having issues with getting my next dosage, which is the only reason I'm cold turkey right now. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. ''It's not by choice - I think drastically dropping is far too risky for weight gain.'' The TikToker also confirmed she had been on a '' high dose '' of the jab. Social media users react The brutally honest clip sparked over 600 comments left by fellow fat jab users - many of whom opened up about their experience of '' food noise ''. ''Food noise'' is the term used to describe the near-constant stream of thoughts about eating that some people struggle to switch off. More often than not, this leads to cravings for calorie-dense, low-nutrient foods and episodes of bingeing. One wrote: ''I gained three stone in six months after I stopped it. Went to Turkey, had the [ gastric ] balloon.'' Another chimed in: ''The hunger that comes after it is awful - I've put on a stone in six weeks. Waste of money.'' A third said: ''I forgot to order my jab in time and was a literal feral person. This made me laugh so much but equally terrified to come off.'' However, others pointed out that in their eyes medications like Mounjaro aren't a permanent fix - but rather tools to help users develop healthier habits in the long run. One follower shared: ''I was absolutely starving when I came off it. ''Took so much willpower for a couple of weeks, but now I'm eating just like I was when I was on it. ''Lost three stone with Mounjaro and another two since stopping. You just have to push through until the hunger passes.'' Another said: ''Been off it three days and I'm definitely eating more. But this is where willpower comes in. I'll never be the 26 stone I was last year.'' What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs? Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects. Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include: Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts. Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea. Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset. Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation. Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss. Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating. Serious side effects can also include: Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon. Thyroid tumors: There's a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic. Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin. The reality of Mounjaro Although many have boasted about weight loss success since using Mounjaro, last year it was revealed that Scots nurse Susan McGowan, 58, died after taking low-dose injections of Mounjaro over a fortnight. A probe also found that nearly 400 people have gone to hospital after taking weight loss drugs. The common side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, which can lead to severe dehydration. And if that wasn't bad enough, doctors say they have also seen 'life-threatening complications', including seizures, bowel obstruction and inflammation of the pancreas. Model Lottie Moss, 27, even said she had a seizure after taking high doses of Ozempic. The makers of Mounjaro, Lilly UK, said patient safety is its 'top priority'. Lilly UK stressed: 'Regulatory agencies conduct extensive independent assessments of the benefits and risks of every new medicine and Lilly is committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety data. 'If anyone is experiencing side effects when taking any Lilly medicine, they should talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional.'
The Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Sun
Love Island star rushed to hospital with ‘worst pain in her entire life'
Former Love Island star Rachel Finni has been rushed to hospital with the "worst pain" in her "entire life". The reality TV star, 34 - who appeared on the dating show in 2021 - has been suffering with an eye infection, which has made her so sick she has been "reflecting on life". 3 3 She said in an Instagram Stories video: "I really think there's an evil eye out there at the moment, and it's a whole other conversation, but I am going through it. "I've been battling this infection in my eye for about over a week now. "It is the worst pain, everything I've experienced in my entire life. "I was even at the hospital at four o'clock this morning. "It's an ongoing back and forth between hospitals, GPs, one-on-one. It's a lot. "I'm not getting any better. I am suffering, and being sick. "You know when you're so sick it makes you reflect on life. "You can even go on my Instagram grid and see I've deleted so many pictures. Pictures of me and Ray. "I just need to protect my peace, my safety, the tangible and intangible, so, yeah, I'm going through it but I'll be back." 3
