Alarm bells over proposed regulation of newly-allowed physician assistants

Last year the Government announced it would allow PA's - who provide health care under a doctor's supervision - to work in New Zealand, tasking the Medical Council with establishing practice restrictions.

But New Zealand Resident Doctors' Association National Secretary Dr Deborah Powell says the council's recent proposal risks patient safety, as PA's will be able to see patients with undiagnosed symptoms.

She adds the UK's experience shows they should be called clinical assistants.

Powell adds they should be called clinical assistants, as the word physician is associated with doctors - which has proved confusing to patients in places like the UK.