A grandmother who was hospitalised with a broken arm died from an infection after a doctor’s associate performed an “unnecessary medical procedure” on her.
Susan Pollitt, 77, was admitted to the Royal Oldham Hospital, Greater Manchester, in July last year.
He died five days later after a procedure to remove excess fluid from his abdomen was botched by a physician associate (PA) – medical staff with only two years of training.
The tragedy comes as criticism grows over the NHS’s reliance on PAs – healthcare workers who do not have a medical qualification but are employed to support doctors.
Physician assistants are not trained to diagnose patients, prescribe medications or order tests, and are supposed to be under the constant supervision of a physician. However, in an increasing number of cases, hospitals are turning to physician assistants to fill the gap in physicians in wards ranging from gynecology to emergency rooms.
Susan Pollitt, 77 (pictured), was admitted to the Royal Oldham Hospital, Greater Manchester, in July last year.
The tragedy comes at a time of growing criticism over the NHS’s reliance on PAs – healthcare workers who do not have a medical qualification but are employed to support doctors. Pictured: Royal Oldham Hospital file photo
A group of senior doctors is now suing the General Medical Council (GMC), the regulator for doctors, for failing to set clear rules on what medical tasks PAs can perform.
Lawyers representing the group, who call themselves Anaesthetists United, wrote to the GMC last week accusing it of “acting unlawfully” by failing to create strict regulations around the roles of PAs and anaesthetist associates (AAs), PAs who help sedate patients before surgery.
The group claims that AAs are allowed to put patients to sleep without a doctor present. They also claim that in some hospitals, AAs are sedating children without a doctor’s supervision.
“The problem is not that associates work in hospitals, but that what they do is completely undefined,” said consultant anaesthetist Dr Richard Marks, who heads the group.
‘Our court case is about setting limits on their responsibilities, as well as determining what consent patients should give and what level of oversight is required.’
The NHS, which already has about 3,500 PAs, plans to recruit about 10,000 by 2038 to free up time for doctors and nurses.
The Mail on Sunday has been raising the alarm over the past year as part of our Rein In The Physician Associates campaign. An investigation by the paper this year revealed dozens of cases where physician assistants had been allowed to cover doctors’ shifts and care for seriously ill patients.
In response, the government pledged to end the practice and ensure that patients are “treated by the appropriate, qualified healthcare professional.”
Mrs Pollitt’s daughter Kate said the family had been left “devastated” and added: “Things have to change.” Pictured: Susan with her husband Roy
Ms Pollitt’s death was the result of “an unnecessary medical procedure” and was contributed to by negligence, senior coroner Joanne Kearsley concluded after an inquest at Rochdale Coroner’s Court (file photo)
But experts say the death of Mrs Pollitt, a grandmother of seven, is proof that strict regulations must be introduced to stop medical assistants carrying out tasks they are not qualified to do.
Her death was the result of “an unnecessary medical procedure” and contributed to by negligence, senior coroner Joanne Kearsley concluded last week after an inquest at Rochdale Coroner’s Court.
When Mrs Pollitt arrived at the hospital, the decision was made to remove excess fluid from her abdomen (known as ascitic drainage) due to another health problem.
The procedure involves cutting into the abdomen to insert a plastic tube and sewing a cuff to the surrounding skin.
In Ms Pollitt’s case, the task was carried out by an anonymous personal assistant, even though “there was no adequate procedure in place to ensure that personal assistants were competent and able to carry out” this task, Ms Kearsley said.
Ascitic drains should not be left in place for more than six hours; Mrs Pollitt’s was there for almost a day. She developed an infection called bacterial peritonitis and died five days later.
“On the balance of probabilities he would not have died if the drain had not been in place for 21 hours,” Ms Kearsley said.
He later added: “There is no national framework for how medical assistants should be trained, supervised and deemed competent. This puts patients, medical assistants and their employers at risk.”
Ms Pollitt’s daughter Kate said the family had been left “devastated” and added: “Things need to change.”
The GMC said: “Anaesthetists United’s lawyers have informed us of their intention to seek a judicial review. We are considering their claims and will respond in due course.”
