Following recommendations to RCP Council, the RCP releases a statement clarifying the financial relationship between the RCP and FPA.
In March 2024, the RCP held an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to debate the role of physician associates (PAs) and a Short Life Working Group (SLWG) was then established to develop recommendations to RCP Council on delivering the result of the post-EGM ballot of fellows.
Among its recommendations, the SLWG called on the RCP to publish a statement clarifying the financial relationship between the RCP and FPA (recommendation 1).
Dr Sarah Clarke, RCP president said:
‘The RCP is not, and has never been, financially dependent on income from the FPA, with income from FPA exams and membership fees making up around 4% of total RCP annual income, covering FPA staffing, costs and overheads. Neither does the college hold any contracts for the delivery of the Physician Associate National Exam or for hosting the FPA.
‘With regulation now in sight, the RCP and FPA have begun to develop a timeline for an independent future home for PAs in 2025. As a result, the RCP financial strategy assumes that the FPA will be independent in the future.’