Written Evidence Apr. 24 2024
Inquiry: NHS leadership, performance and patient safetyFound: The General Medical Council (GMC) is the independent regulator for doctors, and soon Anaesthesia Associates
Mentions:
1: Baroness Boycott (XB - Life peer) There is almost no regulation. - Speech Link
2: Lord Markham (Con - Life peer) the moves that the noble Lords, Lord Hunt and Lord Scriven, are making in the use of things such as physician - Speech Link
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions she has had with the General Medical Council on (a) regulating (i) physician and (ii) anaesthesia associates and (b) ensuring that increased use of these roles in hospitals does not impact (A) the professional competence of other healthcare professionals and (B) patient safety.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has been working closely with the General Medical Council (GMC) since 2019, on the regulation of Anaesthesia Associates (AAs) and Physician Associates (PAs). Regulation with the GMC will provide set standards of practice, education, and training for AAs and PAs, as well as requirements around continual professional development (CPD) and conduct. Regulation with the GMC will mean that individual AAs and PAs can be held to account if serious concerns are raised.
The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan commits to growing these roles alongside recruiting and training more doctors, nurses, and allied health and other professionals. NHS England is working with partners, including the GMC, royal colleges, trade unions, doctors, and medical associate professional groups to develop comprehensive curricula, core capability frameworks, standards for CPD, assessment and appraisal, and supervision guidance for AAs and PAs, ensuring the roles are expanded safely and effectively.
Apr. 04 2024
Source Page: International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use GuidelinesFound: the protocol) See Protocol Amendment. 1.4 Applicable Regulatory Requirement(s) Any law(s) a nd regulation
Oral Evidence Mar. 26 2024
Inquiry: PharmacyFound: , to ensure that we see regulation addressing the different competencies that are attained and we
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that there is clarity for patients about different roles within clinical teams in healthcare settings, including regarding anaesthesia and physician associates.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Anaesthesia Associates (AAs) and Physician Associates (PAs) are supervised by a designated senior doctor, in the role of a consultant, registrar, or general practitioner. The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan sets out plans to increase the PA workforce to 10,000 by 2036/37, and the AA workforce to 2,000 over the same period. The plan also calls for 60,000 more doctors, for a factor of five to one in favour of more doctors, which will contribute to the sustainable implementation of this multidisciplinary model and deliver increased capacity to supervise and support new associate 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.
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 AAs and PAs, and make it easier for employers, patients, and the public to understand the relationship between these roles and that of doctors.
As set out in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines, all healthcare professionals should introduce themselves and explain their role to the patient regardless of their job title. In addition, the GMC has published interim standards for AAs and PAs in advance of regulation which makes it clear that professionals should always introduce their role to patients, and set out their responsibilities in the team.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that NHS staff have sufficient capacity to supervise and support new associate staff.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Anaesthesia Associates (AAs) and Physician Associates (PAs) are supervised by a designated senior doctor, in the role of a consultant, registrar, or general practitioner. The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan sets out plans to increase the PA workforce to 10,000 by 2036/37, and the AA workforce to 2,000 over the same period. The plan also calls for 60,000 more doctors, for a factor of five to one in favour of more doctors, which will contribute to the sustainable implementation of this multidisciplinary model and deliver increased capacity to supervise and support new associate 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.
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 AAs and PAs, and make it easier for employers, patients, and the public to understand the relationship between these roles and that of doctors.
As set out in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines, all healthcare professionals should introduce themselves and explain their role to the patient regardless of their job title. In addition, the GMC has published interim standards for AAs and PAs in advance of regulation which makes it clear that professionals should always introduce their role to patients, and set out their responsibilities in the team.
Oral Evidence Mar. 25 2024
Committee: Health and Social Care Committee (Department: Department of Health and Social Care)Found: It is a very different concept of regulation.
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: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the status of the guidance issued by the British Medical Association in its report Safe Scope of Practice for Medical Associate Professionals (MAPs) in relation to Physician and Anaesthesia Associates.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government considers scope of practice guidance for Anaesthesia Associates (AAs) and Physician Associates (PAs) to be a matter for the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) and the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) respectively, in conjunction with key stakeholders including other medical royal colleges, the Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA), and the Association of Anaesthesia Associates.
The current scope of practice guidance for AAs, which is applicable across the United Kingdom, is published on the RCoA website. The FPA, which is hosted by the RCP, has also published guidance documents relating to the PA curriculum, code of conduct, and supervision. We understand that both the RCoA and the RCP are currently developing further guidance in collaboration with stakeholders, in relation to supervision and scope of practice.
Once regulation begins, the General Medical Council’s published learning outcomes for AAs and PAs will also apply. This sets out a pre-qualification education framework and the outcomes expected of newly qualified AAs and PAs, including professional behaviours and capabilities and minimum expectations for the knowledge and skills required. In addition, employers of AAs and PAs are responsible for ensuring that appropriate governance and supervision are in place, and that individuals within their employment are practicing within their competence.