Acute Service Redesign Initiative 

Subspecialist training programme for Advanced Surgical Care Practitioners and Physician Associates : Surgical Division, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust

This project was instigated in 2018 in our trust with the aim of training senior nurses / healthcare professionals into the role of advanced surgical care practitioners (ASP) and physician associates (PA) over a two year programme involving sub-specialties within the department of general surgery in our trust. An initial cohort of four ASPs and PAs each were recruited, rotating through six four month placements with the intention of gaining knowledge and skills specific to general surgery and be able to practice independently (but with consultant oversight) in ward, emergency room and clinic environments to deliver a consistent and continuous service.