The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has announced the outcome of a vote by its Council on the Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR). The vote rejected a recommendation to close the register to new entrants.
The recommendation stemmed from a report by a short-life working group set up following an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of RCP fellows. The EGM ballot had addressed concerns about the pace and scale of the rollout of physician associate (PA) roles in the UK healthcare system.
While the RCP Council and the working group did not reach a consensus on closing the PAMVR, a vote was held among Council members. With a turnout of over 72%, the final decision was to reject the closure by a narrow margin of 18 votes to 17.
This means the PAMVR will remain open for new applicants until the General Medical Council (GMC) takes over regulation of medical associate professions, including PAs, on December 13th, 2024. The RCP will then close the PAMVR once the GMC register for PAs opens in mid-December.
The RCP has accepted the remaining 15 recommendations from the short-life working group, either fully or in principle. Work on implementing these recommendations will continue.