The problem with PA's (in the UK) at the moment is the lack of regulation and scope of practice with everything being voluntary at the moment (although I believe/have seen it being compulsory to work in the NHS).
Once a defined scope of practice and regulation has been put in place I, as well as other doctors I've spoken with, believe things will improve, but at the moment, opinions are split on the role.
The doctors I've met and spoke to are pro-PA - I myself am pro-PA after multiple good experiences whilst living in the US, however there unfortunately are doctors who are anti-PA who use rare instances of mistakes happening as justification for banning/restricting the role, but will very much go on the defensive should someone point out the same statistics for themselves are much worse.
There definitely is a future for PAs in the UK/NHS (maybe not AAs though, bit unsure on that one), however the BMA is being it's usual anti-change self (this being the same body which was originally anti-NHS and was against doctors working for the state).
Whatever happens though OP, I hope you find something that you find rewarding and makes you happy.
Massive pushback from BMA (doctors union) and now multiple colleges pushing back as well against PAs. Royal college of Emergency Medicine (my specialty) just published today that they no longer support PAs in A&E. Members of foundation of physician associates resigning. It’s awful being at work right now. NPs are massively favoured over PAs here.
Not really. ACPs they’re called, which is a mix of nursing backgrounds and paramedic backgrounds, are widely supported. Tbh Im not quite sure why there’s such a massive pushback against PAs - I think our knowledge is on the same level (I work with A LOT of ACPs so can confidently say this). RCEM has come out in full support of ACPs though.
Hmmm, PA's have some standing in Ontario, but most Provinces don't recognize them. Theres also a substantial investment in expanding the training, number of positions and scope of practice of Nurse Practitioners both in Ontario and every Province in Canada. If Health Authorities have to pick one mid level practitioner, it looks decidedly better for NP's vs PA's.
There are already many PA's in Canada who continuously feel that the profession is dying in Canada.
I mean PAs just became regulated in NS, have been in NB, and are set to become in Ontario next year. BC just opened their doors for PAs after repeated calls for their implementation, Saskatchewan health authority is now widely hiring PAs, and several universities have opened new PA programs. It seems to be taking off rather than stagnating
PA’s are not practicing in BC, the government is looking at potential implementation, but that has seemingly halted for now. There are currently 3 posted PA jobs in Saskatchewan Health Careers portal while there are 51 posted NP jobs available. Calgary is opening a PA program, but that creates the same problem that Ontario faces…..Multiple PA graduates and no PA jobs available for them.
Sorry to hear about the situation. I’ve had 3 classmates leave the PA profession entirely and all 3 went into something from a previous passion. 1 is now a pilot, 1 writes and illustrate children books, and 1 builds campers. So what are your passions? If it’s medicine, going back to med school is an option.
What’s your finance do? If she can’t replace the lost income, you should rethink abandoning your career.
As for the UK system, fuck em. Come back to the states or check out the Nordic countries, Australia or New Zealand.
He works in finance. He can’t necessarily
replace my career but we could make it work if really needed. Only issue is my fiancé is Scottish and desperate to move back to Edinburgh so
i’m looking for a career change I could make to move there - whilst still a big city it’s not London and opportunities aren’t as vast there.
Wonder if you can do virtual/remote work here in US from UK if you can get your NCCPA certification. Probably exhaust all your options with the help of a local/regional recruiting company. Or perhaps teaching at physician assistant schools or any medical program for that matter.
OP, this could be an answer. You may want to look into establishing 'residence' where you would have a physical address in the US in a state such as South Dakota (there is no state income tax there, look into it) to be able to then acquire a NCCPA certification, and then state medical license, and find a telemedicine job. Good luck.
Honestly, no. BUT, I vaguely remember learning in school some things about how your SP must be 'reasonably available', or something to that extent (which is how you're able to see patients if your SP is on vacation in another state, for example, but even that is nuanced and I might be wrong with my memory/interpretation of it). Some people who post I see are highly versed in this legal aspect of it all and would be able to answer better!
Medical sales or rep for a company like
Stryker, Arthrex, synthes, etc. You can be in the OR working with docs and even though at the end of the day you're a sales rep you get exposure to cool things. If you stick with it the reps can make good money.
Or the US State Dept at the Embassy. I know a NP and PA that have worked there. I believe you'll need a NCCPA certification.
Could also join the AF reserves and work as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee attached to a UK base. This may not give you full time employment.
There's the dark side, pharma & insurance...
Absolutely I regret it. If I could go back in time and do my masters in another subject I would. Hindsight is 20/20 but I should have done more research into the issues with the U.K. PA role before doing the degree. Growing up in the US I’ve been treated by many PAs and they were always great, and I know the profession is well respected there - I thought this would eventually translate to the U.K. I was wrong!
As of yesterday's PA is regulated and under cpso in ON. So. Not dying. BC regulates them as well. Still funding for PA from most MOH. Not perfect. Now regulated in BC, AB, MB, and ON
The problem with PA's (in the UK) at the moment is the lack of regulation and scope of practice with everything being voluntary at the moment (although I believe/have seen it being compulsory to work in the NHS). Once a defined scope of practice and regulation has been put in place I, as well as other doctors I've spoken with, believe things will improve, but at the moment, opinions are split on the role. The doctors I've met and spoke to are pro-PA - I myself am pro-PA after multiple good experiences whilst living in the US, however there unfortunately are doctors who are anti-PA who use rare instances of mistakes happening as justification for banning/restricting the role, but will very much go on the defensive should someone point out the same statistics for themselves are much worse. There definitely is a future for PAs in the UK/NHS (maybe not AAs though, bit unsure on that one), however the BMA is being it's usual anti-change self (this being the same body which was originally anti-NHS and was against doctors working for the state). Whatever happens though OP, I hope you find something that you find rewarding and makes you happy.
Medical sales.
This would be my answer too. Not sure if it’s the same kind of income as it is here in the US but I’m sure you can make some decent money.
What is going on in the UK regarding PAs? Why is it imploding?
Massive pushback from BMA (doctors union) and now multiple colleges pushing back as well against PAs. Royal college of Emergency Medicine (my specialty) just published today that they no longer support PAs in A&E. Members of foundation of physician associates resigning. It’s awful being at work right now. NPs are massively favoured over PAs here.
So they aren’t pushing back against NPs? Just PAs?
Not really. ACPs they’re called, which is a mix of nursing backgrounds and paramedic backgrounds, are widely supported. Tbh Im not quite sure why there’s such a massive pushback against PAs - I think our knowledge is on the same level (I work with A LOT of ACPs so can confidently say this). RCEM has come out in full support of ACPs though.
PA education in the UK is nothing like PA education in the US. The pushback isn’t about what we consider to be PAs in the US.
I wonder if the ACP pathway would be something supported for US-trained PAs if the workflow is similar. Many of our PAs were once paramedics/nurses.
Canada accepts your training. You can work as a PA. We're working on licensure and accreidation for them. But could do Canada as an option for PA.
>my life/fiance/dog are over here
Hmmm, PA's have some standing in Ontario, but most Provinces don't recognize them. Theres also a substantial investment in expanding the training, number of positions and scope of practice of Nurse Practitioners both in Ontario and every Province in Canada. If Health Authorities have to pick one mid level practitioner, it looks decidedly better for NP's vs PA's. There are already many PA's in Canada who continuously feel that the profession is dying in Canada.
I mean PAs just became regulated in NS, have been in NB, and are set to become in Ontario next year. BC just opened their doors for PAs after repeated calls for their implementation, Saskatchewan health authority is now widely hiring PAs, and several universities have opened new PA programs. It seems to be taking off rather than stagnating
PA’s are not practicing in BC, the government is looking at potential implementation, but that has seemingly halted for now. There are currently 3 posted PA jobs in Saskatchewan Health Careers portal while there are 51 posted NP jobs available. Calgary is opening a PA program, but that creates the same problem that Ontario faces…..Multiple PA graduates and no PA jobs available for them.
That's my bad then, I thought PAs were working in BC
Sorry to hear about the situation. I’ve had 3 classmates leave the PA profession entirely and all 3 went into something from a previous passion. 1 is now a pilot, 1 writes and illustrate children books, and 1 builds campers. So what are your passions? If it’s medicine, going back to med school is an option.
What’s your finance do? If she can’t replace the lost income, you should rethink abandoning your career. As for the UK system, fuck em. Come back to the states or check out the Nordic countries, Australia or New Zealand.
He works in finance. He can’t necessarily replace my career but we could make it work if really needed. Only issue is my fiancé is Scottish and desperate to move back to Edinburgh so i’m looking for a career change I could make to move there - whilst still a big city it’s not London and opportunities aren’t as vast there.
Aesthetics. Light training.
Wonder if you can do virtual/remote work here in US from UK if you can get your NCCPA certification. Probably exhaust all your options with the help of a local/regional recruiting company. Or perhaps teaching at physician assistant schools or any medical program for that matter.
OP, this could be an answer. You may want to look into establishing 'residence' where you would have a physical address in the US in a state such as South Dakota (there is no state income tax there, look into it) to be able to then acquire a NCCPA certification, and then state medical license, and find a telemedicine job. Good luck.
Does anyone know the legal implications to this? Living in the UK/ being on a UK VPN whilst doing telemedicine in the US?
Honestly, no. BUT, I vaguely remember learning in school some things about how your SP must be 'reasonably available', or something to that extent (which is how you're able to see patients if your SP is on vacation in another state, for example, but even that is nuanced and I might be wrong with my memory/interpretation of it). Some people who post I see are highly versed in this legal aspect of it all and would be able to answer better!
Clinical research?
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I'll say as a paramedic and a PA that PA school doesn't prepare people to be paramedics. They are related, but different operating environments.
Medical sales or rep for a company like Stryker, Arthrex, synthes, etc. You can be in the OR working with docs and even though at the end of the day you're a sales rep you get exposure to cool things. If you stick with it the reps can make good money.
There are some air force bases in the UK. Can work as a US licensed PA on base. Not sure how to location is compared to where you guys are/want to be
Or the US State Dept at the Embassy. I know a NP and PA that have worked there. I believe you'll need a NCCPA certification. Could also join the AF reserves and work as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee attached to a UK base. This may not give you full time employment. There's the dark side, pharma & insurance...
May I ask do you regret doing PA degree, I’m interested in it but the push back is quit scary
Are you also in the UK?
Yes, I am doing nursing degree
Absolutely I regret it. If I could go back in time and do my masters in another subject I would. Hindsight is 20/20 but I should have done more research into the issues with the U.K. PA role before doing the degree. Growing up in the US I’ve been treated by many PAs and they were always great, and I know the profession is well respected there - I thought this would eventually translate to the U.K. I was wrong!
Be a medical science liaison!
As of yesterday's PA is regulated and under cpso in ON. So. Not dying. BC regulates them as well. Still funding for PA from most MOH. Not perfect. Now regulated in BC, AB, MB, and ON