The role of the Physician’s Associate/Physician’s Assistant within the breast team

The ABS recognises the valuable contribution that the role of Physician’s Associate/Physician’s Assistant (PA) brings to our health services. We support ongoing dialogue aimed at ensuring patient safety, clarity of roles, and effective team working across the NHS, and are committed to supporting PAs in delivering a high standard of breast care as the role continues to evolve. 

Several UK breast units already have PAs working as an established member of their team. The flexibility of the role enables PAs to undertake varying clinical and administrative roles depending on the needs of the unit, e.g. assisting specialist nurses with wound care, undertaking supervised one stop clinics, assisting in theatre when no trainees are available, triaging referrals using set unit protocols, etc.

PAs can act in an enabling role, helping to reduce the healthcare team’s administrative workload and offer continuity and stability both for patients and for the team in which they work. PA support can also enable trainee doctors to attend targeted training in clinic or theatre, by undertaking their administrative service commitments such as discharge letters. They can also facilitate trainees' attendance at educational and governance sessions.

PAs should always work in a supervised capacity, and always have immediate access to clinical guidance and advice from senior medical colleagues. As per previous ABS guidance, breast operations should only be performed by medically qualified and appropriately surgically trained professionals.