Correspondence May. 22 2024
Committee: Health and Social Care Committee (Department: Department of Health and Social Care)Found: Secretary of State on powers on the regulation of physician associates 08.05.24 Correspondence
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: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish their Social Care regulatory reform programme and what new protected professional medical titles they are considering introducing.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no plans to publish a social care regulatory reform programme. However, the Government has consulted on its proposed approach to modernising the legislation of the professional health and care regulators. As part of this work, we will consider whether to make any changes to the medical titles protected in law. Any proposals will be subject to statutory consultation, and the affirmative parliamentary process.
The Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024 was made on 13 March 2024, and will bring Aanaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates into regulation by the General Medical Council (GMC), under a reformed regulatory framework. We are currently working on the next phase of reform, which includes introducing a new regulatory framework for medical practitioners. The future GMC order relating to the medical profession will be drafted and published for consultation in due course.
Mentions:
1: John McDonnell (Lab - Hayes and Harlington) I co-sponsored the Bill, which basically called for regulation of the sector. - Speech Link
2: John McDonnell (Lab - Hayes and Harlington) , and there have just been too many examples where that regulation and monitoring have not worked and - Speech Link
3: Andrew Stephenson (Con - Pendle) instrument on the regulation of physician associates and anaesthetist associates. - Speech Link
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards the new regulatory system for health and care professionals; and which protected professional titles they are considering in scope of these regulations.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024 was made on 13 March 2024 which will bring anaesthesia associates and physician associates into regulation by the General Medical Council under a reformed regulatory framework. We are currently working on the next phase of reform, which will introduce a new regulatory framework for medical practitioners and the professions regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Health and Care Professions Council.
As part of the Government’s regulatory reform programme, protected titles will be considered more broadly, as we take forward legislation for each regulator.
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