Mentions:
1: Dan Poulter (Con - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich) Physician associates and anaesthesia associates currently complete a two year postgraduate course and - Speech Link
2: Dan Poulter (Con - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich) Physician associates and anaesthesia associates are not currently regulated. - Speech Link
3: Rachael Maskell (LAB - York Central) I sat on the Committee that considered the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024 - Speech Link
4: Dan Poulter (Con - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich) There should be a national scope of practice for physician associates and anaesthesia associates, both - Speech Link
5: Dan Poulter (Con - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich) The same standard should apply to physician associates and anaesthesia associates. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Lord Markham (Con - Life peer) and physician associates into statutory regulation by the GMC.Following the legislative consultation - Speech Link
2: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green - Life peer) and Physician Associates Order 2024 because it represents a significant constitutional change in regulation - Speech Link
3: Baroness Finlay of Llandaff (XB - Life peer) Yes, physician associates and anaesthesia associates must be regulated. - Speech Link
4: Lord Lansley (Con - Life peer) associates and anaesthesia associates within the scope of regulation. - Speech Link
5: Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist (Con - Life peer) The Faculty of Physician Associates code of conduct, produced with the GMC, says that physician associates - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: None and physician associates. - Speech Link
2: None and physician associates. - Speech Link
3: Andrew Stephenson (Con - Pendle) and physician associates. - Speech Link
4: Rachael Maskell (LAB - York Central) and physician associates. - Speech Link
5: Margaret Greenwood (Lab - Wirral West) Regulation of the roles of physician associates and anaesthesia associates is long overdue. - Speech Link
6: Andrew Stephenson (Con - Pendle) Ahead of regulation by the GMC, the Faculty of Physician Associates has issued guidance for PAs, supervisors - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Haughey, Clare (SNP - Rutherglen) The purpose of the instrument is to allow the statutory regulation of anaesthesia associates and physician - Speech Link
2: Gulhane, Sandesh (Con - Glasgow) However, I have a number of concerns about physician associates and anaesthetic associates. - Speech Link
3: Matheson, Michael (SNP - Falkirk West) and Physician Associates Order 2024 [draft] be approved. - Speech Link
4: Haughey, Clare (SNP - Rutherglen) and Physician Associates Order 2024 [draft] be approved. - Speech Link
Mar. 20 2024
Source Page: Letter dated 18/03/2024 from Lord Markham to Peers regarding issues raised in the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024 debate: delay to regulation, patient safety / quality of training, scope of practice, prescribing, role of the GMC, GMC register, professional titles, pay, Long Term Workforce Plan - medical schools, and comments on the Explanatory Memorandum. 4p.Found: Letter dated 18/03/2024 from Lord Markham to Peers regarding issues raised in the Anaesthesia Associates
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has had recent discussions with the Health and Care Professions Council on the regulation of NHS (a) physician and (b) anaesthesia associates.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The assessment of the appropriate regulatory body for physician associate (PA) and anaesthesia associate (AA) regulation was completed in 2019. On 7 February 2019, the Government published its response to the consultation on the Regulation of Medical Associate Professions in the United Kingdom, confirming its decision to introduce statutory regulation for PAs and AAs. Most respondents to the consultation were in favour of the General Medical Council (GMC) taking on regulation.
Following further work by the Department, on 18 July 2019, the Government announced that it would be asking the GMC to regulate both roles. No further assessments have been made of the potential merits of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) regulating PAs and AAs and there have been no recent discussions with the HCPC on this matter.
Regulation by the GMC will mean that the organisation will have responsibility and oversight of all three professions allowing them to take a holistic approach to the education, training, and standards of the roles. This will enable a more coherent and co-ordinated approach to regulation and, by making it easier for employers, patients, and the public to understand the relationship between these roles and doctors, help to embed them in the workforce.
On 13 December 2023, the Department laid draft legislation in both Houses and in the Scottish Parliament that will empower the GMC to commence regulation for the two roles by the end of 2024.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of regulating NHS (a) physician and (b) anaesthesia associates through the Health and Care Professions Council.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The assessment of the appropriate regulatory body for physician associate (PA) and anaesthesia associate (AA) regulation was completed in 2019. On 7 February 2019, the Government published its response to the consultation on the Regulation of Medical Associate Professions in the United Kingdom, confirming its decision to introduce statutory regulation for PAs and AAs. Most respondents to the consultation were in favour of the General Medical Council (GMC) taking on regulation.
Following further work by the Department, on 18 July 2019, the Government announced that it would be asking the GMC to regulate both roles. No further assessments have been made of the potential merits of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) regulating PAs and AAs and there have been no recent discussions with the HCPC on this matter.
Regulation by the GMC will mean that the organisation will have responsibility and oversight of all three professions allowing them to take a holistic approach to the education, training, and standards of the roles. This will enable a more coherent and co-ordinated approach to regulation and, by making it easier for employers, patients, and the public to understand the relationship between these roles and doctors, help to embed them in the workforce.
On 13 December 2023, the Department laid draft legislation in both Houses and in the Scottish Parliament that will empower the GMC to commence regulation for the two roles by the end of 2024.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of regulating (a) anaesthesia and (b) physician associates through the General Medical Council on public perception of those roles.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The assessment of the appropriate regulatory body for physician associate (PA) and anaesthesia associate (AA) regulation was completed in 2019. On 7 February 2019, the Government published its response to the consultation on the Regulation of Medical Associate Professions in the United Kingdom, confirming its decision to introduce statutory regulation for PAs and AAs. Most respondents to the consultation were in favour of the General Medical Council (GMC) taking on regulation.
Following further work by the Department, on 18 July 2019, the Government announced that it would be asking the GMC to regulate both roles. No further assessments have been made of the potential merits of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) regulating PAs and AAs and there have been no recent discussions with the HCPC on this matter.
Regulation by the GMC will mean that the organisation will have responsibility and oversight of all three professions allowing them to take a holistic approach to the education, training, and standards of the roles. This will enable a more coherent and co-ordinated approach to regulation and, by making it easier for employers, patients, and the public to understand the relationship between these roles and doctors, help to embed them in the workforce.
On 13 December 2023, the Department laid draft legislation in both Houses and in the Scottish Parliament that will empower the GMC to commence regulation for the two roles by the end of 2024.
Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure public (a) safety and (b) clarity in the healthcare roles of (i) physician associates and doctors and (ii) other NHS staff.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The introduction of regulation by the General Medical Council (GMC) will provide a standardised framework of governance and assurance for the clinical practice and professional conduct of Anaesthesia Associates (AAs) and Physician Associates (PAs), and make it easier for employers, patients, and the public to understand the relationship between these roles and that of doctors.
Whilst statutory regulation is an important part of ensuring patient safety, it is also achieved through robust clinical governance processes within healthcare organisations, which are required to have systems of oversight and supervision for their staff.
NHS England is working with the relevant professional colleges and regulators to ensure the use of associate roles is expanded safely and effectively, and that they are appropriately supported, supervised, and integrated into multidisciplinary teams. NHS England has written to trusts to remind them of their responsibilities in this area, with further information available at the following link:
We are clear that AAs and PAs are not, and should never be, referred to as medical practitioners, doctors, or consultants. It is the responsibility of professionals and their employers to ensure professional titles are used appropriately. As set out in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines, all healthcare professionals directly involved in a patient's care should introduce themselves and explain their role to the patient. The GMC has published interim standards for AAs and PAs in advance of regulation, which make it clear that professionals should always introduce their role to patients and set out their responsibilities in the team.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many physician associates are employed in the NHS; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the regulation of physician associates.
Answered by Will Quince
Latest data published by NHS England shows that, as of March 2023, there are 1,490 full time equivalent (FTE) physician associates (PAs) working across National Health Service trusts and integrated care boards. In addition, in June 2023 there were a total of 1,805 FTE physician associates working in primary care settings.
The Faculty of Physician Associates at the Royal College of Physicians currently provides professional support to PAs across the United Kingdom. This includes setting standards for education and training. The Faculty also oversees a voluntary register of qualified PAs who have been declared fit to practise in the UK.
Work is ongoing to bring PAs into statutory regulation under the General Medical Council (GMC). We plan to lay legislation before Parliament at the end of 2023, which will allow the GMC to commence regulation by the end of 2024. Regulation by the GMC will provide a standardised framework of governance and assurance for the clinical practice and professional conduct of PAs.