Josh is the UK’s first ever Physician Associate dedicated to older surgical patients. Funded entirely by your donations, Josh looks after the many older people who are rushed to Southmead Hospital every year for emergency surgery.
Older patients often need complex care from many different teams at our hospitals and are at a greater risk of complications and dying. Working in the department of geriatric medicine, Josh – whose role is the first of its kind across the country – is now helping teams give these vulnerable patients the best possible care.
Josh supports decision making of consultants, ensuring elderly patients are in the best place medically before and after their surgeries, and helps with rehabilitation so people can get home sooner.
Alongside his day-to-day role, Josh is also monitoring the impact of his role on patient outcomes and hopes the post will become permanent and that a similar approach will be adopted elsewhere.
“The Physician Associate role is relatively new, however having a specialist role to dedicate to our most vulnerable patients is ground-breaking and I’m privileged to play a part in that.
“Pilot roles like this one, which rely on your donations, have and will continue to have a huge impact on the NHS. My role will reduce costs to the hospital and free up beds to help even more patients.
“It will give these patients the best surgical care, improve their stay and ultimately, get them home much sooner and in the best shape possible. Thank you so much.”
To find out about more projects, roles, research and equipment made possible by your donations, please have a look at our Impact Report for 2021-2022.
You can support patients at North Bristol NHS Trust by donating today. Thank you.
