THURSDAY, 20 AUGUST 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PHOTO ATTACHED L-R DR ALEX DONEY, CONSULTANT PHYSICIAN, DEBBIE DONALD, PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, HANMO ZHANG, INTERN, JAMES PETERS, INTERN, KEVIN CAMPBELL, INTERN, STUART OGLESBY, CONSULTANT SURGEON, GILLIAN RUSSELL, PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATE STUDENT, AND HEATHER CRACKNELL, INTERN

New clinicians welcomed to Tayside

Trainee and graduate healthcare professionals filling the new clinical position of Physician Associate have been welcomed to NHS Tayside.

Mr Stuart Oglesby, Consultant Surgeon and Dr Alex Doney, Consultant Physician welcomed four graduates from Aberdeen University to NHS Tayside for one-year internships where they will undertake placements in gastroenterology, acute stroke medicine, general surgery and vascular surgery.

Aberdeen University students who are completing the two-year Physician Associate Studies Postgraduate Diploma are also currently undertaking four-week placements within NHS Tayside.

Physician Associates (PAs) are a new and rapidly growing group of graduate professionals who, whilst not doctors, have the skills and knowledge base to deliver holistic care and treatment.

With funding support from NHS Tayside’s charity, Tayside Health Fund, NHS Tayside is supporting this new healthcare role in partnership with Aberdeen University.

Stuart Oglesby, Consultant Surgeon with NHS Tayside said, “We are delighted to be welcoming our interns and students to Tayside and supporting this exciting new role which will benefit patients by improving patient care.

“PAs have skills and attributes to improve continuity of care. Working in partnership with patients and senior medical staff, they will ensure that patients are actively involved in decisions affecting their care.

“We hope that we will be able to secure the services of our interns and students within Tayside on a more permanent basis once they have completed their placements with us.”

NHS Tayside is also sponsoring five students to undertake the Physician Associate Studies Postgraduate Diploma at Aberdeen University. The students will take up their clinical placements in Tayside in 2016/7.

Physician Associates will work as part of a multidisciplinary team under the supervision of a designated senior doctor such as a consultant or registrar. They will be able to carry out physical examinations, make diagnoses, work with patients and carers to agree clinical management plans and undertake patient education, counselling and health promotion.

Contact:

Gaynyr Dickson

NHS Tayside Communications

01382 740716