What happens to me if a PA makes a mistake on my watch?

Abstract

As physician associates (PAs) fall under the regulation of the General Medical Council, what are the supervising doctors’ responsibilities, Abi Rimmer asks Mark Swindells, assistant director, standards and guidance, GMC, says, “Modern healthcare is delivered through multiprofessional teams, and the delivery of good patient care is reliant on effective communication around supervision and delegation. If you’re a named supervisor for a PA or anaesthesia associate (AA), you’ll have specific responsibilities. There is no one-size-fits-all approach because individuals develop their skills and experience over time. “You should agree an appropriate level of supervision and make sure there’s a managed support system in place, with clear escalation protocols. Your employer should support you by ensuring you have the skills, time, and training needed. “We have general expectations of all our registrants when it comes to the day-to-day supervision of colleagues and delegation of tasks. If you can’t be certain of the competence of a PA or AA colleague, you’ll need to ask them about this before using your professional judgment to establish if you can delegate care or if you need to supervise. “Day-to-day supervision involves overseeing tasks and responsibilities that a colleague undertakes. This includes giving advice and guidance, as well as direct supervision of a specific task. You must give clear instructions about what is expected and be available to answer questions or provide help when needed. “Delegation involves asking a colleague to take responsibility for providing care or treatment on your behalf. If you’re confident you can delegate, then as well as giving clear instructions and encouraging questions you must ensure your colleague knows how to escalate safety concerns. You’re not accountable for the decisions and actions of PAs and AAs, provided you’ve acted in line with the professional standards set out in delegation and referral. “If you use …