James Catton (PA in primary care, PA ambassador for Suffolk and North East Essex and host of the physician associate podcast.)
“I’m James – I trained to be a physician associate as a way of using my previous science degree in a new and innovative clinical career. I love being a PA as it gives me lots of opportunities, especially in primary care, to work with patients. I have developed a special interest in medical education, and really enjoy teaching students and improving placements for PA students locally. When I first started, there were only a few PAs in our area, and it’s been really nice to see the profession grow and expand.”
Luke Selfe (PA & eConsult lead in primary care. PA ambassador for Suffolk & North East Essex)
“My name is Luke and I am a physician associate working in Primary care. I started my career as a PA just over 5 years ago when the GP surgery I was on placement in offered me a permanent role. I’m still there and part of the management team now!
My practice is a forward thinking and innovative one, with a very varied workforce. I work with GPs, GP trainees, paramedics, Nurses, pharmacists and other PAs. We all work in large hub rooms where we call and triage patients before booking our own appointments from a variety of undifferentiated on the day presentations. This communal way of working means we have immediate and varied access to supervision and support from other clinicians, a chance to chat and discuss cases & someone regularly brings round the coffee pot!
I will typically have anywhere from 36 to 50 patient contacts a day but have the flexibility to decide how and when I see/speak to these patients. Within my managerial role I am responsible for managing some clinical complaints and predominantly look at managing/improving our digital services/processes and triage platform.
Primary care is a fast-paced, busy environment with ever growing demand and the Physician Associate role is one of the few growth workforces primed to help staff and support GP practices. Primary care offers huge variety in one’s working day as a PA and there are many specialisms and services you can branch off into as your career develops.”
For further information on the physician associate role please see our careers pages.
Do also take a look at the animation produced by NHS England to showcase PAs.
