Open Letter to all physician associates, from Prof Jim Parle
PAs: your profession needs you! Dear PA, I am appealing to you from the bottom of my heart. And no, not for money. But for support. And not for me,…
PA regulation – So, what next?
The AAPA Order 2024 has been approved by the House of Lords, paving the way for official regulation of physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs). This is a huge…
RCP president responds to NHS England letter
Last week, NHS England reiterated its position on employing PAs, confirming ‘PAs are not a substitute for doctors; they are trained to work collaboratively with other health professionals as supplementary…
PA Regulation Debate Rescheduled
The anticipated House of Lords debate on the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024 (AAPAO 2024) has been rescheduled to Monday, February 26th. Originally, the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician…
PAs ‘do not mitigate’ the need for more GPs, admits health minister
Employing physician associates (PAs) ‘does not mitigate the need for more GPs’ and other practice staff’ Health Minister Andrew Stephenson explained, during a debate in the House of Commons on…
NHS England confirms PAs are not a substitute for doctors
NHS England has released a position statement on employing PAs, confirming ‘PAs are not a substitute for doctors. NHS England states that PAs are trained to work collaboratively with other…
PA regulation faces additional scrutiny in House of Lords
The proposed legislation to regulate Physician Associates will undergo further scrutiny in the House of Lords, delaying the previously announced timeline. Originally, the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024…
GMC warns doctors (and soon PAs) can be held accountable for private WhatsApp messages
Physician Associates (PAs) need to tread carefully with their private messages, just like doctors, as new GMC guidance states that private communication platforms like WhatsApp are included in their professional…
Scottish Parliament approves GMC legislation for physician associates
The Scottish Parliament has devolved powers over healthcare, and plays a crucial role in safeguarding and improving the health of its citizens. Key decisions on health policy about the Scottish…
Date set for RCP extraordinary general meeting about physician associates
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has announced the convening of an emergency meeting within the next eight weeks to address concerns regarding the role and regulation of physician associates.…