I’ve worked hard not to be drawn into the PA debate on Twitter, as it’s impossible to have nuanced reflection in limited space. However, as we come to end of the year, I reflect that without the PAs in our dept, service would have collapsed at times. Valued & valuable.

Dr Asif Qasim MA PhD FRCP What’s your definition of a profession ? I find it so hurtful this focus on PA’s. Why ? Why are they being singled out for such approbation? And no, before you ask, I have no COI other a desire for fairness.

Dr Asif Qasim MA PhD FRCP We have been watching the display of hate towards the PA profession in the UK based largely on ignorance. The International PA organization (IPAO) and the Global Association of Clinical Officers and Physician Associates (GACOPA) are the recognized world bodies.

A thread of MedTwitter toxicity for every time UK doctors claim it doesn't exist🧵

On Friday 14 February, I published a short Opinion piece in The BMJ. I argued that doctors have every right to voice their opinions but that, as professionals, there were limits to how these views can be expressed in public fora like X. Doctors must avoid posts that are

May I suggest that PAs are not the cause of young UK medical graduates not getting trained.

Dr Clarke writes this whole thread without mentioning the failure of the doctor involved.

Janet Eastham So she died from the complications of pulmonary aspiration which occurred during induction of anaesthesia🧐

Louella Vaughan The debate about physician associates is more about a professional guild protecting its status quo than real concerns about patient safety. If only doctors embraced these changes, then those concerns could be properly addressed. More responsibility, less guild interest!

It’s the vindictive attacks made by fellow doctors towards physicians associates that has surprised me. There must be room for debate without such attacks and it has been embarrassing to see as a doctor

Farzana Hussain Thank you! I had a lot of agreement with the PA issue but the outright nastiness puts me off. It's more like a witch hunt and awful to see. They also vilify PA students for things medical students do like ranking their placements on tiktok etc

#RCP take note of unfounded claims by your one of your representatives. She is posting her agreement “spot on the money”, with the claim that, ‘PAs are just people who couldn’t get into Med School’. This is highly disrespectful and openly insulting to NHS colleagues.

#RCPhysicians

A doctor reported to GMC but now working in Nigeria… I worry about the people of that country. #Nigeria #patients #doctors #LengReview

How can these people affiliate themselves with Good Medical Practice with attitudes such as this towards NHS colleagues? @NHS GMC Royal College of Physicians

Alex Panton Probably. I’m concerned about various facets of PA deployment. However, some of the examples of ‘poor care’ by PAs in specific cases that were floating around were essentially scapegoating, and not something I would necessarily endorse.

Dr Robert Laurenson Wouldn't want to be treated by @medregoncall1 either. x.com/Niamh_F_Kielb/…

Pointing fingers at PAs must stop. Clearly vast majority of these 1 in 20 hospital admission errors are not down to PAs. Errors occur in relation to all staff including doctors.