A Study Evaluating the Role of Medical Associate Professionals (MAPs)* in the NHS

Thank you very much for completing this short questionnaire.

This study examines the role of MAPs in the NHS and investigates the impact of their recent wider integration into clinical practice on patient safety, as well as the training opportunities of junior doctors. It comes following unsettling articles published by organisations such as the British Medical Association (BMA) and ITV on the potential harmful effects of the expansion of MAPs within clinical practice. By collecting the responses of medical students, junior doctors, consultants and members of the public, this study intends to provide an insight into this topical issue from the perspectives of those at its forefront.

By completing this questionnaire, you will have the opportunity to be entered into a free prize draw to win a Â£100 Amazon voucher. This is a token of appreciation for your time in completing this questionnaire. Further details on how to be entered into the prize draw can be found at the end of the questionnaire.

Ethical Approval Number: 202312-8KB

*Medical Associate Professionals currently practicing in the NHS are Physician Associates (PAs), Anaesthetic Associates (AAs) and Surgical Care Practitioners (SCPs).

Are you a medical student, junior doctor, consultant, or member of the public?


Medical Student
Junior Doctor
Consultant
Member of the Public

Do you believe that Medical Associate Professionals (MAPs), such as Physician Associates, Anaesthesia Associates and Surgical Care Practitioners can help to alleviate the issues that the NHS currently faces (e.g., high waiting times; spiralling costs; high burnout rates; low morale of doctors)?
Most Certainly Certainly Maybe Unlikely Definitely Not

(Optional) If possible, could you please state why you selected the above answer?
Do you believe that, when you become a junior doctor, your training and learning opportunities might be compromised by MAPs undertaking an integrated role in clinical practice?
Most Certainly Certainly Maybe Unlikely Definitely Not

(Optional) If possible, could you please state why you selected the above answer?
Has the increased recruitment and expansion of MAPs into the NHS influenced your future career plans (e.g., your preferred specialty or your preferred place of work as a qualified doctor)?
Most Certainly Certainly Maybe Unlikely Definitely Not

(Optional) If possible, could you please state why you selected the above answer?

What is your current level of training?
Foundation Year Doctor (FY1-FY4) Core Trainee (CT1-CT2) Junior Specialty Trainee (ST3-ST5) Senior Specialty Trainee (ST6-ST8) Clinical Fellow Specialty Doctor Trust Grade Doctor Other If Other, please specify.

What is your chosen speciality (current or future)?
Accident and Emergency Anaesthesiology and ICU General Practice Medicine and its Subspecialities (including Psychiatry) Paediatrics Radiology Surgery and its Subspecialities (including OBG) Other If Other, please specify.

Do you believe that Medical Associate Professionals (MAPs), such as Physician Associates, Anaesthesia Associates and Surgical Nurse Practitioners can help to alleviate the issues that the NHS currently faces (e.g., high waiting times; spiralling costs; high burnout rates; low morale of doctors)?
Most Certainly Certainly Maybe Unlikely Definitely Not

(Optional) If possible, could you please state why you selected the above answer?
Do you feel that the fact that you, as a doctor, have had to engage in activities such as complete Medical School, prepare for interviews, sit postgraduate exams, attend courses, write and publish papers, achieve certain competencies, and have WPBAs signed off is sometimes undervalued when a learning opportunity is offered to a MAP?
Most Certainly Certainly Maybe Unlikely Definitely Not

(Optional) If possible, could you please state why you selected the above answer?
Do MAPs assist you in your day-to-day role as a doctor? If so, does their presence free you of routine tasks (such as on the ward) and allow you to engage in other educational and learning opportunities (such as assisting in theatre)? Or do you feel that you will have more learning opportunities without the presence of a MAP?
Do you believe that your training opportunities are or will be affected by MAPs undertaking a more integrated role in clinical practice?
Most Certainly Certainly Maybe Unlikely Definitely Not

(Optional) If possible, could you please state why you selected the above answer?
Has the increased recruitment and expansion of MAPs into the NHS influenced your future career plans (e.g., your preferred specialty or your preferred place of work)?
Most Certainly Certainly Maybe Unlikely Definitely Not

Do you believe that Medical Associate Professionals (MAPs) such as Physician Associates, Anaesthesia Associates and Surgical Care Practitioners can help to alleviate some of the issues that the NHS currently faces (e.g., high waiting times; spiralling costs; high burnout rates; low morale of doctors)?
Most Certainly Certainly Maybe Unlikely Definitely Not

(Optional) If possible, could you please state why you selected the above answer?
Are there instances in which you would prefer a MAP to assist you in theatre or in a clinic rather than a junior doctor? Why?
Do you believe that the training opportunities of junior doctors are or will be affected by MAPs undertaking a more integrated role in clinical practice?
Most Certainly Certainly Maybe Unlikely Definitely Not

(Optional) If possible, could you please state why you selected the above answer?
Do you, as an experienced consultant, foresee any issues of integrating MAPs into the NHS in roles similar to those of junior doctors? Do you think that, in the long term, a greater role of MAPs in clinical practice will compromise the quality of training of junior doctors who are training to become consultants?

Before you were given this questionnaire, did you know what a Medical Associate Professional (MAP) is?
Yes No

Medical Associate Professionals assist doctors to provide care for patients in hospitals and in the community. They have not attended Medical School, they do not have a medical degree, and they are not qualified doctors. Unlike specialist doctors, they do not have postgraduate medical qualifications. The three Medical Associate Professional roles are Physician Associates (PAs), Anaesthetic Associates (AAs) and Surgical Care Practitioners (SCPs).
Are you aware that you might be treated by a MAP and not by a qualified doctor in an NHS GP surgery or hospital?
Yes No

Would you be happy for a MAP to diagnose you with a medical condition (e.g., cancer) instead of a qualified doctor?
Most Certainly Certainly Maybe Unlikely Definitely Not

Would you be happy for a MAP to prescribe you medications instead of a qualified doctor?
Most Certainly Certainly Maybe Unlikely Definitely Not

Would you be happy for a MAP to treat your condition or operate on you or a member of your family instead of a qualified doctor/surgeon?
Most Certainly Certainly Maybe Unlikely Definitely Not

Do you believe that the medical advice or treatment you receive from a MAP will be similar to the medical advice or treatment you would receive from your GP or a qualified doctor in the hospital?
Most Certainly Certainly Maybe Unlikely Definitely Not

Do you have any other thoughts about the expansion of MAPs in your GP surgery or in NHS hospitals?