PA profession in Scotland: Current landscape and future direction

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Workforce Development
• Medical Professional Advancement
• Scotland Health Services

Background:

• Physician associates (PAs) have been integral to Scottish multidisciplinary care teams for 19 years.
• Despite their established presence, a defined career progression pathway for experienced PAs is currently lacking.
• This gap hinders the full utilization of their skills and potential within the healthcare system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current education, deployment, and career development aspirations of PAs in Scotland.
• To identify barriers to career progression for experienced PAs.
• To inform the development of a supportive career structure for PAs.

Main Methods:

• An original questionnaire was distributed to all contactable PAs in Scotland.
• Publicly available workforce and education data were analyzed.
• Qualitative thematic analysis was applied to the questionnaire data.

Main Results:

• Scottish PAs are experienced professionals eager for development within NHS Scotland.
• A significant need for enhanced career structures and improved support systems was identified.
• Current infrastructure does not fully support PAs working to their maximum capacity.

Conclusions:

• A clear career progression framework for PAs in Scotland is urgently required.
• Investment in supporting infrastructure is crucial for PA professional development.
• Addressing these needs will enable PAs to contribute more effectively to patient care and the NHS workforce.