Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she has taken to engage with the medical and surgical colleges on the proposed regulation of anaesthesia associates and physician associates.

The regulation of anaesthesia associates (AAs) and physician associates (PAs) has been subject to extensive stakeholder engagement and public consultation over several years. Officials have corresponded with the Faculty of PAs at the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Anaesthetists, along with other royal colleges and professional organisations, throughout the development of the policy and the legislation which will bring the roles into regulation.

This engagement has been crucial in shaping our policy intent and the legislative drafting, to ensure that the resultant legislation is pragmatic and will benefit patient safety and registrants. We will monitor the impact of the legislation to ensure that it continues to best serve the interests of patients and the public, as well as the regulators and their registrants. We will actively seek feedback from the royal colleges and professional bodies.