Government set to order rapid review into physician associates

According to a news package about physician associates on Channel 4 news today, the government have reportedly ordered a review into the use of physician associates in the NHS.

The physician associate profession was initiated under the Blair Labour government, that began the first trials of physician associates in the NHS over 20 years ago. The development of the PA profession was then furthered under the Conservative government of 2010-2024.

More recently, the NHS long term work force plan, which was written under the last Tory government, identifies physician associates as one of the core elements of workforce growth in the NHS.

Channel 4 News reports that the current government is set to order a rapid review of the use of PAs, including safety and efficiency. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which represents all of the medical royal colleges, also called for a rapid review of medical associate professionals across the NHS last month.

The Department of Health and Social Care has told Channel 4 news tonight:  “Physician associates play an important role in the NHS, as they have for over two decades, but we are clear they should be supporting, not replacing, doctors and should receive the appropriate level of supervision by healthcare organisations.”

Stephen Nash, chief executive officer of United Medical Associate Professionals (UMAPs), told Channel 4: “I think there is evidence been found over the last year, very small amounts where employers have tried to push physician associates and they haven’t had that strength to be able to say no, and that’s where we’ve seen things go wrong.

I think that’s where regulation comes in. I think that’s where good governance comes in, and I think that’s where employer responsibility comes in as well.”

Physician associates are due to be regulated under the General Medical Council in December 2024.

Earlier today, UMAPs published its guidance document for GP surgeries who employ physician associates. Yesterday, NHS Employers also published guidance clarifying key issues for physician associates in employment in the NHS.

Medical royal colleges – including the Royal College of General Practitioners – has recently called for physician associates to be phased out of the workforce.

Dr Philip Banfield, chair of the BMA Council, appeared on Channel 4 news saying:  “We’re calling on a kind of immediate halt to the practice of physician associate expansion, because this is a clear risk to patient safety.”