Asked by: Baroness Merron (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to introduce legislation to regulate anaesthesia associates.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 13 December 2023, the Department laid draft legislation in both Houses and in the Scottish Parliament that will empower the General Medical Council (GMC) to regulate anaesthesia associates and physician associates. Subject to parliamentary scrutiny, this legislation will instruct the GMC to commence regulation. The GMC will have 12 months to consult on their own rules, policies and guidance and begin regulating these roles.
Regulation will provide a standardised framework of governance and assurance for clinical practice and professional conduct, to enable these roles to make a greater contribution to patient care.
Asked by: Baroness Merron (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Commission on Human Medicines is expected to make recommendations about whether anaesthesia associates will be given prescribing rights.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 13 December 2023, the Department laid draft legislation in both Houses and in the Scottish Parliament that will empower the General Medical Council (GMC) to regulate anaesthesia associates and physician associates.
Subject to parliamentary scrutiny, this legislation will instruct the GMC to commence regulation. The GMC will have 12 months to consult on their own rules, policies and guidance and begin regulating these roles.
Extending prescribing responsibilities to a profession involves a separate legislative process to the introduction of statutory professional regulation as amendments are needed to the Human Medicines Regulations.
The process to extend prescribing responsibilities to a role is jointly led by NHS England and the Department. This work is exploratory at this stage, in advance of regulation.
Report Jan. 25 2024
Committee: Secondary Legislation Scrutiny CommitteeFound: 10th Report - Drawn to the special attention of the House: Draft Anaesthesia Associates and Physician
Correspondence Dec. 11 2023
Committee: Health, Social Care and Sport CommitteeFound: Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order Letter from the Nursing and Midwifery Council to
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
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 barriers to the integration of physician associates into primary care teams.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In implementing the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, NHS England is working with the relevant professional colleges and regulators, to ensure the physician associate (PA) role is expanded safely and effectively. In addition, NHS England has produced patient-facing materials that have been shared widely with general practices to support patient awareness and understanding of the role.
The introduction of regulation by the GMC will provide a standardised framework of governance and assurance for the clinical practice and professional conduct of PAs and make it easier for employers, patients, and the public to understand the relationship between this role and that of doctors.
Published - Wednesday 13th December 2023
This Order provides for the regulation of anaesthesia associates and physician associates (“associates”) by the General Medical Council (“the Regulator”).
Found: The Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024
Laid - 13 Dec 2023 In Force Not stated
This Order provides for the regulation of anaesthesia associates and physician associates (“associates”) by the General Medical Council (“the Regulator”).
Found: Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024
Dec. 11 2023
Source Page: Regulating anaesthesia associates and physician associatesFound: Regulating anaesthesia associates and physician associates
Correspondence Jan. 09 2024
Committee: Health, Social Care and Sport CommitteeFound: Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order Letter from the Professional Standards Authority
Correspondence Dec. 14 2023
Committee: Health, Social Care and Sport CommitteeFound: Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024 Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for NHS