Addressing broader issues

Beyond the specific proposals in the consultation, we received comments on a number of broader issues. These included issues relating to the roles and deployment of PAs and AAs; as well as matters that have already been settled in law by the UK and Scottish Parliaments such as the choice of regulator, and the PA and AA titles.

We’ve carefully reviewed and considered every response and have summarised the views we heard in the report. We encourage organisations with responsibilities in these areas, such as employers and system leaders, to reflect on the findings and take appropriate action in their own work.

For our part, we’ve used the broader feedback to identify and implement wider improvements for the benefit of patients, doctors and PAs and AAs. For example:

• we’ve updated Good medical practice, the professional standards that will apply to PAs and AAs once they register with us, to further emphasise the importance of introducing themselves to patients and explaining their role in their care.

• we’re developing a new resource to provide advice to doctors about the supervision of PAs and AAs.