How we make decisions about a PA or AA’s fitness to practise

These explanatory publications outline the key concepts and principles that underpin our decision making in respect of a PA or AA’s fitness to practise.

• What we mean by fitness to practise (Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates)
• Decision making principles in fitness to practise (Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates)

The decision-making guidance below is used to inform decisions made at specific stages of the fitness to practise process.

• Decisions at the pre-initial assessment stage
• Decisions at the initial assessment stage
• Decisions at the case examiner stage
• Decision on whether regulatory action is required
• Decision on what restrictive action is required
• Decision on whether a warning is required

This decision-making guidance informs our approach to restricting a PA or AA's registration on an interim basis.

• Decisions on interim measures

• Policy on publication and disclosure of fitness to practise information for Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates
• Using personal information in the fitness to practise process for Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates

• Guidance on referral to Disclosure Scotland
• Guidance on referral to the Disclosure Barring Service
• Guidance on disclosure to Disclosure Scotland and the Disclosure & Barring Service under the Medical Act 1983 (Section 35B(2)) or the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024 (Schedule 3, paragraph 1(2))
• Decisions on sharing information related to a Physician Associate or Anaesthesia Associate with the police
• Decisions on sharing information related to a Physician Associate or Anaesthesia Associate with the police - supplementary guidance for decision makers