Girl, 5, traumatised after GP assistant wrongly prescribed vaginal pessary, report finds A five-year-old girl was left traumatized, bleeding, and in severe pain after a physician associate (PA) wrongly prescribed her a vaginal pessary. The ombudsman’s report detailed multiple failures in care, including inadequate supervision of the PA and a lack of proper checks by the GP and pharmacy. The incident has led to calls for greater transparency regarding who is treating patients and stricter regulations for PAs.

• A five-year-old girl suffered significant harm after a physician associate incorrectly prescribed a vaginal pessary.
• The physician associate suspected thrush, but the pessary was inappropriate for a prepubescent child and caused bleeding and severe pain.
• The ombudsman found multiple failures in care, including inadequate GP supervision and a lack of questioning by the pharmacy.
• The mother was misled into believing her daughter was being seen by a GP.
• The incident resulted in trauma for the child and distress for the mother, leading to recommendations for compensation and improved practices.
• The case has reignited debate about the role and supervision of physician associates in healthcare settings.