The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) has called for an independent review of physician and anesthesia associates (PAs and AAs), amid growing concerns and controversy surrounding their roles within the healthcare system.
The academy, which represents 24 medical royal colleges, expressed support for the expansion of PA and AA roles but acknowledged the need for a thorough examination given the “increasingly acrimonious and destructive debate” fueled by unsubstantiated claims on social media.
The BBC news report suggests that AoMRC emphasized the importance of an objective assessment of the data on safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness to determine the appropriate roles and responsibilities for PAs and AAs within the healthcare system.
Dr. Jeanette Dickson, chair of the academy, stated, “We want an independent, evidence-based, rapid review to help us make a decision about how best to delineate their roles and where they might best fit into the system.”
In May 2023, then president of the AoMRC Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard spoke to the Physician Associate podcast about PAs.
The Royal College of GP’s recently changed its view on physician associates, stating there is no role for physician associates in primary care.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has raised concerns about PAs and AAs being asked to perform tasks beyond their scope of practice, blurring the lines between their roles and those of doctors.
The BMA’s leader, Prof Philip Banfield, expressed disappointment in the academy’s delayed response to the need for an inquiry. He urged the government to take immediate action to address the concerns and pause the recruitment and expansion of PAs and AAs until their scope of practice is clearly defined.