The Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA) launches wellness evenings to explore physician associates under pressure

In the UK, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem every year*. The FPA census 2020 report displayed worrying statistics that 42% of physician associate (PA) respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that they worked under excessive pressure. 

In response to those findings, the FPA held a series of wellness evenings with immediate past president Kate Straughton in 2021. The evenings provided FPA members with the opportunity to explore any pressures they were experiencing and share how they combat those pressures. Findings from those wellness evenings concluded that there were several factors impacting physician associates (PAs), how they felt in their roles and how the pressures they felt impacted them as individuals.

The FPA will soon be launching the census 2021 report, which includes updated statistics reflecting that FPA PA members continue to work under excessive pressure. To help support those members experiencing pressure and to understand how morale within the profession can be raised, the FPA is pleased to launch a series of additional wellness evenings.

The evenings will be held by the FPA president, vice president, and a Board member to explore:

• what is causing PAs to experience excessive pressure?
• how does a PAs mental health and wellbeing impact their ability to perform their roles?
• what are some of the ways PAs currently look after their mental health and wellbeing?
• how can the FPA better support PAs who are experiencing excessive pressure?

Wellness evenings are available to all FPA members and will operate as follows:

Wednesday 9 November – clinical wellness evening with FPA president, Jamie Saunders, 6.30–8pm.

Wednesday 16 November – surgical wellness evening with FPA vice president, Chandran Louis, 6.30–8pm.

Wednesday 23 November – primary care wellness evening with FPA Board member, Pauline Weir, 6.30–8pm.

All wellness evenings will be held via Microsoft Teams and have limited places available. To secure your place email your full name, place of work and RCP code to [email protected].

The closing date for registrations will be the Monday before each event takes place, or when all places have been filled. More wellness evening dates will follow.

*https://www.mind.org.uk/media-a/2958/statistics-facts-2017.pdf