The 'noctor' will see you now: Unregulated physician associates putting lives at risk

Physician associates were brought in to ‘cut NHS waiting lists’, but doctors say they put patients at risk and increase workloads.

By Ellie Broughton

In the early hours of Friday, 11 November 2022, Ben Peters attended Manchester Royal Infirmary’s Ambulatory Care Unit feeling unwell. He experienced chest pain, shortness of breath, a sore throat, and an aching arm. Despite his normal ECG, the 25-year-old felt sick while waiting for review, and his blood tests revealed an abnormal resu…