‘In recent years, there has been much controversy over the increased use of physician (and anaesthetic) associates (referred to together as associates in this piece) in primary and secondary care in the NHS. Associates practice clinically, alongside and under the supervision of doctors, but are not medically qualified. One angle of concern is the possibility for confusion between associates and doctors. ‘Physician associate’, the argument goes, is a misleading title, which is apt to mislead an unexpecting patient into thinking – wrongly – that they have been seen by a doctor.’
1 QMLR, 5th March 2026
Source: 1corqmlr.com
