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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Denis Campbell Health policy editor

Physician associates to be renamed to stop them being mistaken for doctors

A hospital ward
The report will say those who perform physician associate roles must make clear to patients that they are assistants, not fully qualified doctors. Photograph: Jeff Moore/PA

Physician associates in the NHS will be renamed to stop patients mistaking them for doctors after a review found that their title caused widespread confusion.

Thousands of physician associates who work in hospitals and GP surgeries across the UK take medical histories, examine patients and diagnose illnesses but are not doctors.

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