We thank all those who helped with this study – as participants, as advisors, as public voice representatives, as champions for the study within individual NHS trusts and in providing data from hospital information systems. The study was undertaken at a time of increasing workforce pressures in the NHS. So, although timely in providing evidence, this meant that those who helped the study did so in the face of fierce competition for their time and attention. We are therefore very grateful.
Robert Grant (Senior Research Fellow in Quantitative Methods, Joint Faculty of Kingston University and St George’s, University of London) was a member of the research team that obtained the funding until he left his university post in 2017. While a member of the research team, he provided expert statistical advice. Dr Chao Wang (Senior Lecturer in Statistics, Joint Faculty of Kingston University and St George’s, University of London) undertook the statistical analysis and provided statistical advice in preparation of the final report 2018. Morro Touray (Research Fellow in Health Economics, University of Surrey) provided health economics advice and insights to the research team. Dr Cheryl Whiting supported the final preparation of the manuscript.
Contributions of authors
Vari M Drennan (Professor of Health Care and Policy Research) conceived, obtained funding for and led the study. She contributed to all elements of the study, led the emerging-findings seminar and overall synthesis of findings, and drafted the final report.
Mary Halter (Associate Professor of Emergency Cardiovascular and Critical Care Research) conceived and obtained funding for the study. She was project manager and contributed to all elements of the study. She convened the London patient voice groups and led on the surveys, systematic review, data collection and analysis within the EDs. She wrote the initial draft chapters on the PA deployment (see Chapter 5) and the ED element (see Chapter 10). She also contributed important intellectual content to the revisions of the final report.
Carly Wheeler (Research Associate) undertook surveys, the systematic review, data collection and analysis in the case study sites. She helped convene the London patient voice group. She prepared the initial draft of the nurses’ view chapter (see Chapter 9). She also contributed important intellectual content to the revisions of the final report.
Laura Nice (Research Associate) undertook data collection and analysis in the case study sites. She contributed to the West Midlands patient voice group. She wrote the initial draft of the patient and family views chapter (see Chapter 6). She also contributed important intellectual content to the revisions of the final report.
Sally Brearley (Patient and Public Involvement) conceived and obtained funding for the study. She contributed to all elements of the study and chaired all research team meetings. She led on the patient and public involvement, including chairing of the emerging-findings seminar. She contributed important intellectual content to the revisions of the final report.
James Ennis (PA and Lecturer) was awarded the funding and contributed to all elements of the study. He provided PA expertise and knowledge. He contributed to the West Midlands patient voice group and undertook qualitative interviewing and analysis in the study sites. He also contributed important intellectual content to the revisions of the final report.
Jon Gabe (Professor of Sociology) conceived and obtained funding for the study. He contributed to all elements of the study, provided expert knowledge in sociology applied to health care and qualitative methods and undertook analysis of qualitative data. He contributed important intellectual content to the revisions of the final report.
Heather Gage (Professor of Health Economics) conceived and obtained funding for the study. She contributed to all elements of the study, provided expert knowledge in health economics, led on the economic analysis and prepared results for publication. She contributed important intellectual content to the revisions of the final report.
Ros Levenson (Independent Researcher) undertook the senior manager and clinician interviews, leading on the analysis and initial draft of that chapter. She contributed to all elements of the study, including contributing important intellectual content to the revisions of the final report.
Simon de Lusignan (GP and Professor of Primary Care and Clinical Informatics) conceived and obtained funding for the study. He provided expert clinical knowledge and expertise in the organisation of medicine and clinical informatics. He contributed to all elements of the study and contributed important intellectual content to the revisions of the final report.
Phil Begg (Executive Director of Strategy and Delivery in a NHS Trust and Professor) helped conceive the study and was awarded the funding. He provided expert NHS management knowledge of the acute sector organisation and workforce issues. He convened the West Midlands patient voice group. He contributed to all elements of the study and contributed important intellectual content to the revisions of the final report.
Jim Parle (GP and Professor of Primary Care) helped conceive the study and was awarded the funding. He provided expert clinical knowledge, expertise in the organisation of medicine and medical education as well as PA education. He contributed to all elements of the study and led the study elements in the West Midlands. He contributed important intellectual content to the revisions of the final report.
Publications
Halter M, Wheeler C, Drennan VM, de Lusignan S, Grant R, Gabe J, et al. Physician associates in England’s hospitals: a survey of medical directors exploring current usage and factors affecting recruitment. Clin Med (Lond) 2017;17:126–131.
Wheeler C, Halter M, Drennan VM, de Lusignan S, Grant R, Gabe J, et al. Physician associates working in secondary care teams in England: interprofessional implications from a national survey. J Interprof Care 2017;6:1–3.
Wheeler C, Halter M, Drennan MV, de Lusignan S, Grant R, Gabe J, et al. Physician associates working in secondary care teams in England: interprofessional implications from a national survey. J Interprof Care 2017;31:774–6.
Halter M, Wheeler C, Drennan VM, de Lusignan S, Grant R, Gabe J, et al. The contribution of physician assistants/associates to secondary care: a systematic review. BMJ Open 2018;8:e019573.
Drennan VM, Halter M, Wheeler C, Nice L, Brearley S, Ennis J, et al. What is the contribution of physician associates in hospital care in England? A mixed methods, multiple case study. BMJ Open 2019;9:e027012.
Data-sharing statement
All qualitative data generated that can be shared are contained within the report. All data queries and requests should be submitted to the corresponding author for consideration. Please note that exclusive use will be retained until the publication of major outputs. Access to anonymised data may be granted following review.
Patient data
This work uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support. Using patient data is vital to improve health and care for everyone. There is huge potential to make better use of information from people’s patient records, to understand more about disease, develop new treatments, monitor safety, and plan NHS services. Patient data should be kept safe and secure, to protect everyone’s privacy, and it’s important that there are safeguards to make sure that it is stored and used responsibly. Everyone should be able to find out about how patient data are used. #datasaveslives You can find out more about the background to this citation here: https://understandingpatientdata.org.uk/data-citation.
Disclaimers
This report presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The views and opinions expressed by authors in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the NHS, the NIHR, NETSCC, the HS&DR programme or the Department of Health and Social Care. If there are verbatim quotations included in this publication the views and opinions expressed by the interviewees are those of the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect those of the authors, those of the NHS, the NIHR, NETSCC, the HS&DR programme or the Department of Health and Social Care.