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With the right training and support in place, Physician Associates can play an important part in relieving a proportion of the clinical burden on GPs and their wider staff. As the role is now included in those available through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, we persuaded Ria Agarwal, herself an experienced Physician Associate (PA), to make a return to the podcast, to share her experiences and her tips for getting the best out of a newly recruited PA. Why she believes they can really make a difference to practice productivity, what PA preceptorships (such as the scheme currently on offer in Sheffield) can bring in the way of support and how to get the best out of your newest recruit.

Introduction (0:34)

Four years in the life of a Physician Associate (PA) (0:48)

Is the PA role now more widely accepted in general practice? (2:05)

The inclusion of PAs in the additional roles’ reimbursement scheme (2:39)

Preceptorship schemes (2:58)

What is involved in a preceptorship typically? (3:46)

Structuring PA consulting appointments in the first year (6:24)

Progression and training (7:16)

The influence of a practice in enhancing the potential of a PA (8:26)

Is there a benefit to newly qualified PAs having access to and mentorship from a more experienced PA? (11:03)

Tackling recruitment (12:31)

Expectation versus reality (15:11)

Why where you base your PA matters (16:24)

Preceptorship funding (17:22)

The key to success (18:30)

Final thoughts and advice (19:44)

A link to Ria’s paper on the preceptorship scheme available in Sheffield is here