Advanced practitioners: 83% of doctors say use of role in NHS is risk to patient safety, survey finds

AI Summary

A recent survey among UK doctors reveals that 83% express concerns that the current deployment of advanced practitioners in the NHS poses a risk to patient safety. This situation highlights the ongoing debate about healthcare staffing and the qualifications of practitioners.

More than four fifths of UK doctors are concerned that the way advanced practitioners (APs) are deployed in the NHS poses a risk to patient safety.The finding, from a survey by the BMA,1 drew swift commendation from bodies representing APs, which labelled it a “divisive attack.”2APs are NHS clinicians—including those from nursing, paramedic, pharmacist, and physiotherapist backgrounds—who have completed some additional training but are not medically qualified.3The BMA received over 5000 responses to an online survey open to its members.Overall, 83% of respondents said the way APs currently work in the NHS is either sometimes (2853, 55.6%) or always (1412, 27.5%) a risk to patient safety. Three quarters (75.6%) said they were occasionally (1706, 34.5%) or frequently (2034, 41.1%) concerned that the APs they work with are doing so beyond their competence.More specifically, 71% reported advanced practitioners frequently (2562, 52%) or occasionally (956, 19.4%) doing work that only doctors should...