Get to Know TeamLGT

Team LGT sign with a group of colleagues

As per our shared vision and values, we work hard at LGT to increase the amount of understanding, compassion and respect among all our colleagues. We have set up a monthly feature, where we shine a spotlight on teams around the Trust, explain the work they do and why it is important to our teammates, patients and to the care we deliver.

You can read this month's Get to Know TeamLGT below:

Physician Associates
April 2024

Team LGT sign Physician associates are health care professionals trained to the medical model. Their role is to support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients, working alongside doctors and nurses providing medical care as an integral part of what the NHS calls the 'multi-disciplinary team' – a team of clinicians with different expertise who work together to discuss care and treatment. For carrying out this work under difficult circumstances, our PAs were nominated and won Star of the Month in April 2023!

PAs can work autonomously but will always do so under the supervision of a fully trained and experienced doctor. The role was established in 2002, and as of 2024 at LGT we have 33 physician associates working in three of our five clinical divisions since 2018. Our longest-serving PA has been with us for more than five years.

Like all colleagues, PAs wear name badges and lanyards that make their job titles easily identifiable to patients. The role helps to increase clinical capacity, as PAs are trained to do clinical duties such as taking medical histories, carrying out physical examinations, and developing and delivering treatment and management plans. They cannot prescribe medication, but their vital work positively contributes to the medical and surgical team; to patient experience and flow; and their work complements that of our consultants and doctors in training to ensure patient safety and continuity of care.

Vanessa Purday, Chief Medical Officer at LGT, said: “Our physician associates are valued members of the LGT team, playing an essential role alongside our consultants and other doctors to deliver patient care. It is important that this role is treated respectfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team. We know that we value succeeding together over achieving alone, and great working relationships with other professional team members will accelerate this success.”

You can hear directly from a physician associate about the role they play here, and more information and key facts on the role of Physician Associates can be found on the Department of Health and Social Care website.