Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding her Department has provided for the training of physician associates in each region in the 2023-24 financial year.

Physician associates (PAs) must pass an intensive two-year university course at diploma or masters level to learn clinical knowledge and skills after completing a three-year biomedical or healthcare related degree. They train in both the acute sector and primary care to gain a rounded patient centred clinical experience. There are 36 PA schools across England and currently one PA school delivering the postgraduate degree apprenticeship for PA.

Subject to final training numbers and costs, NHS England estimates they will provide approximately £20.5 million for the training of 2,227 physician associates in the 2023/24 financial year broken down as follows:

- East of England: £2,252,701;

- London: £3,001,033;

- Midlands: £2,205,406;

- North East and Yorkshire: £2,493,019;

- North West: £4,178,322;

- South East: £2,804,249; and

- South West £1,742,302.