EXCLUSIVE 'He's living in a fairy world': Doctors slam Wes Streeting for backing controversial physician associates who treat patients after just two years training and have been linked to three deaths READ MORE: Doctors to sue NHS watchdog 'for failing to curb cut-price medics' By Emily Stearn, Health Reporter For Mailonline and Ethan Ennals, Health Editor Published: 16:42, 20 June 2024 | Updated: 12:06, 21 June 2024 e-mail 13 shares 5 View comments Doctors have slammed Labour's Wes Streeting for defending 'browbeaten' physician associates (PAs) as 'valuable' and 'important' to the NHS . In a speech earlier this week the shadow health secretary said he was 'depressed by the state of debate' around 'devalued' PAs, and urged the NHS to not 'slam the brakes' on their recruitment. However he acknowledged that safety concerns around the group, dubbed 'cut-price doctors', needed to be 'seriously addressed'.
Speaking to MailOnline, medics reacted with fury to the comments accusing Mr Streeting of 'living in a fairy world' and claiming he was attempting to silence their concerns. The row erupted as the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) today announced it was halting employing PAs in GP surgeries until the profession is properly regulated later this year. Shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, said while concerns needed to be 'seriously' addressed, he was 'depressed by the state of debate' around PAs and the NHS should not 'slam the brakes' on their recruitment Emily Chesterton, pictured,.
