The RCP has issued a briefing to peers ahead of the short debate on Thursday 5 December on the review of physician associate and anaesthetist associate roles and government plans in advance of the outcome.
This is a debate in response to the Government announcing the Leng review into physician associates (PAs), which the RCP welcomed.
The RCP has informed peers of the College’s position on physician associates to assist with parliamentary contributions on the issue.
In summary, our briefing highlighted:
- Physician associate projections in the Long Term Workforce Plan (LTWP): The RCP is clear that there must be a limit to the pace and scale of the proposed PA rollout and that these projections must be reviewed in their 2025 iteration of the plan.
- The Leng Review: The RCP is glad that PA scope of practise is in included in the review, but would also like it to consider the impact of the PA role on patient safety and training opportunities for doctors.
- Many of our members have significant concerns about the safe deployment of PA’s, and the RCP is calling on NHS England to limit the pace and scale of the rollout of the physician associate role. We also laid out our stance, as decided by council, on this issue, which was decided on the 19th November 2024.