Northwick Park Hospital recruits PAs to ease pressure in busy wards

A new breed of employee is helping ease the strain on overstretched nurses and doctors at Northwick Park Hospital.

Physician associates (PAs) are graduates with life science or health profession degrees who with two years accelerated medical training, can find work in busy wards.

Rosaline Alpine , one of seven PAs working in the Watford Road hospital’s A&E department, said: “The thought of spending seven years in medical school wasn’t an option but a friend mentioned the role of physician associate and I liked the sound of it.

“It was the hardest two years of my life but well worth it although I felt like a rabbit caught in the headlights during my first day working in A&E.”

Her “typical” ten hour shift includes taking histories, examinations, ordering and interpreting investigations, performing procedures, diagnosing and discharging patients.

She added:“I feel like I am doing something worthwhile and making a difference.”