Independent Nurse: Medical care practitioners - BMA raises concerns about MCP role.(British Medical Association)(medical care practitioners)(Brief Article)

The BMA has come out against the idea of medical care practitioners (MCPs) in its response to a government consultation on the roles.

Echoing many of the same points made by the RCN in their response (IN, 6 February 2006), the BMA says the new role will confuse the public and the title will mislead patients.

It goes on to agree with the RCN that the new roles should be called doctor's 'assistants'. This, it says, would 'better describe the work they do and is in line with international practice'.

The BMA also cites new research carried out into the similar role of surgical care practitioners, which showed that 82.4 per cent of patients incorrectly …