Governments should undertake thorough consultation before introducing ‘physician assistants’

The RACP has recommended that all Australian governments conduct thorough consultations with physicians before considering ‘physician assistant’ roles as an option for healthcare systems.

These roles are meant to support doctors and other healthcare professionals in managing day-to-day tasks.

They have been introduced in the United States, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, to help alleviate the growing pressures on their respective healthcare systems.  

RACP statement

The RACP understands a small number of assistants now work in Australia, and the Queensland Government is investigating use of these assistants in certain clinical settings. Other state and territory governments in Australia may also consider if these assistants could be brought in to provide support to the healthcare workforce.

RACP President, Professor Jennifer Martin, said that governments at all levels must adequately consult physicians before any such decisions are taken.

“Any changes to how the healthcare system operates in Australia must only be made after seeking proper advice and feedback from physicians and other healthcare professionals."

“The introduction of these roles would be a major change, and it is important to ensure that patient safety wouldn’t be compromised."

“Ensuring that these assistants receive adequate training and are appropriately certified will be key to this.  This needs to integrate well with existing health workforce training and registration models."

“How these roles might be supervised and fit into multidisciplinary teams need to be considered carefully.  Clarifying what they should and shouldn’t do, who is responsible for what they do and how they communicate with other team members are critical issues to consider."

“Further, the introduction of assistants may significantly impact how training for medical students and junior doctors is conducted.  It is imperative that they be given the clinical opportunities they need to grow as doctors."

“The RACP has long advocated for measures that will help ease the pressure on Australia’s healthcare system. However, the introduction of these roles widely across healthcare systems in Australia would be a complicated process that may lead to disruptions and community concern without proper planning and consultation."

“Therefore, we strongly advise that all governments engage in a collaborative consultation process with key experts like the RACP before making such any decisions,” Professor Martin said.