Medics fly in from USA
TRANSATLANTIC relations have been given a boost at Halton and Warrington hospitals with the arrival of three US medics.
Ali Casteel, Jenifer Refenberry-Gillis and Nataly Silva flew in last week and underwent their formal induction to the acute team on Monday
The transatlantic recruits are ‘physician associates’ – a new role in UK healthcare and involving supporting doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients, taking medical histories, performing examinations, analysing test results, and diagnosing illnesses under the direct supervision of a doctor.
A further 10 US-physician associate graduates arrive later in the year to begin their four-year training pro- gramme as part of the Own’ programme.
A Warrington And Halton Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust (WHH) spokeswoman said the physician associate expansion programme is an ambitious national project aimed at supporting seven-day NHS working.
The scheme has been backed by WHH’s deputy medical director Dr Nick Jenkins.
He said: “It aims to reduce reliance on locums and cost to the NHS whilst paving the way for home-grown PAs.
“It is a great testament to WHH that we have been able to secure three of the 26 available who have uprooted their families from the US to settle and take up these posts in Warrington and Halton.” ‘Grow Our