BSMS Physician Associate

7

Hi guys, I have an interview coming up for Physician Associate at University of Brighton and not sure how to prepare...If you've done the interview or are going to do the interview soon, please leave some advice/tips!

Reply 1

Blueberrypop

11

Best thing to do is to cancel the interview and apply for a different course . The PA role as it is now is finished . Do your research.

Reply 2

Blueberrypop

11

Original post

by an0nstud3nt321

Hi guys, I have an interview coming up for Physician Associate at University of Brighton and not sure how to prepare...If you've done the interview or are going to do the interview soon, please leave some advice/tips!

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=195

Reply 3

UniOfBrightonRep

Official Rep

10

Original post

by an0nstud3nt321

Hi guys, I have an interview coming up for Physician Associate at University of Brighton and not sure how to prepare...If you've done the interview or are going to do the interview soon, please leave some advice/tips!

Hi @an0nstud3nt321
PA interviews take the form of Multi Mini Interviews (MMIs). These last for half a day. They include situational scenarios, group activities and 1:2 interview with a clinician and lay representative. The goal is to see whether you have the base skills and knowledge for the degree as well as the passion.

I would recommend doing research into what the degree and the job will entail as well as reading over any information Brighton has sent you.

The PA role has been identified as a key emergent profession within the NHS which is very exciting!

Good luck with your interview!
Blue- TSR Student Ambassador

Reply 4

an0nstud3nt321

OP

7

Original post

by UniOfBrightonRep

Hi @an0nstud3nt321
PA interviews take the form of Multi Mini Interviews (MMIs). These last for half a day. They include situational scenarios, group activities and 1:2 interview with a clinician and lay representative. The goal is to see whether you have the base skills and knowledge for the degree as well as the passion.
I would recommend doing research into what the degree and the job will entail as well as reading over any information Brighton has sent you.
The PA role has been identified as a key emergent profession within the NHS which is very exciting!
Good luck with your interview!
Blue- TSR Student Ambassador

Thank you for taking the time to respond! That’s exactly what I’m doing so far! I think what was getting me is the 2:1 discussion as that hasn’t been a part of any other MMIs Ive done. I’m just confused as to what it entails.

Reply 5

Blueberrypop

11

Original post

by an0nstud3nt321

Thank you for taking the time to respond! That’s exactly what I’m doing so far! I think what was getting me is the 2:1 discussion as that hasn’t been a part of any other MMIs Ive done. I’m just confused as to what it entails.

The PA role isn’t a key emergent profession. The Leng review is looking into the safety of PAs . There has been 3 coroners reports . Multiple patient deaths and harm . Most specialities Emergency medicine ,paediatrics , GP ,Anaesthetics etc have all advised for a pause to recruitment or have said that there is no role for PAs altogether. Universities are lying to students. There are no jobs . Thousands of PAs are out of work .
Don’t do this to yourself . If you want to be a doctor ? Do GEM . If not ? Find a different, established and properly regulated healthcare profession to apply to .

Reply 6

Blueberrypop

11

https://archive.md/2025.03.30-163730/https://inews.co.uk/news/health/row-gps-physician-associates-nhs-3605579

Reply 7

UniOfBrightonRep

Official Rep

10

Original post

by an0nstud3nt321

Thank you for taking the time to respond! That’s exactly what I’m doing so far! I think what was getting me is the 2:1 discussion as that hasn’t been a part of any other MMIs Ive done. I’m just confused as to what it entails.

Hi @an0nstud3nt321
I'd suggest emailing [email protected] and ask them about the 2:1 interview if you want any advice or have any other questions im sure they would be happy to help!

Good luck with your interview!
Blue- TSR Student Ambassador

Reply 8

unknown21006526

2

Original post

by an0nstud3nt321

Hi guys, I have an interview coming up for Physician Associate at University of Brighton and not sure how to prepare...If you've done the interview or are going to do the interview soon, please leave some advice/tips!

Hi, I have done a few interviews. I thought I would help. They’re going to ask you why do you want to be a physician associate and why at that university? So make sure you answer for the physician associate role is really strong. They may ask you why the role of a PA and not a doctor or a nurse so make sure you know how to answer that. They will probably as well ask you that university so make sure you find some pros in that university in terms of the physician associate course and the way it structured, taught etc and what you like. I recommend reading up on medical ethics too. Also make yourself aware of current ethical issues such as abortion, organ donation, euthanasia and weight loss medication. Additionally, make sure you can answer how you balance your time effectively. Practice a little bit of role play too

Reply 9

an0nstud3nt321

OP

7

Original post

by unknown21006526

Hi, I have done a few interviews. I thought I would help. They’re going to ask you why do you want to be a physician associate and why at that university? So make sure you answer for the physician associate role is really strong. They may ask you why the role of a PA and not a doctor or a nurse so make sure you know how to answer that. They will probably as well ask you that university so make sure you find some pros in that university in terms of the physician associate course and the way it structured, taught etc and what you like. I recommend reading up on medical ethics too. Also make yourself aware of current ethical issues such as abortion, organ donation, euthanasia and weight loss medication. Additionally, make sure you can answer how you balance your time effectively. Practice a little bit of role play too

Thank you for this! Very helpful

Reply 10

Blueberrypop

11

I’d probably wait until the recommendations of the Leng review are published and also the outcome of the 2 court cases BMA vs GMC and Anaesthetists United and Emily Chesterton family vs GMC before deciding to accept a place on this course .

Reply 11

Flamingo10

12

Original post

by an0nstud3nt321

Thank you for this! Very helpful

I hope that you are prepared to waste 2 years and and about £20k on this course. There are currently a lot of unemployed PAs. Have a look at how many jobs the NHS is advertising for PAs and then ask yourself why someone who had just finished the course would get a job ahead of PAs who have experience. Plus no one not even this university has any idea what kind of role the PA role will be after the Leng Review. For a start the name is going to change. It is also likely that what a PA can do at work is a lot less than they can do currently. This means that this course might not be needed to get some sort of assistants job as this is what the PA role is likely to turn into. It is also quite possible that the pay banding will change as band 7 is too high for an assistant.

Several universities have suspended or closed the PA course which is the kind thing to do for students when no one knows if there will continue to be a PA role.

You don't currently need a degree to become a health assistant or a doctors assistant. If you are determined to work as an assistant you might want to have a look at these?

BSMS Physician Associate

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