GMC response to Professor Gillian Leng’s Review of PA and AA roles

Responding to Professor Gillian Leng’s independent review of the physician associate (PA) and anaesthesia associate (AA) professions in England, Charlie Massey, Chief Executive and Registrar of the General Medical Council said:
‘My thanks to Professor Gillian Leng and her team for their detailed and thoughtful work on this important Review. The Review brings much-needed clarity and offers a timely opportunity for a reset across healthcare.

‘As the regulator for PAs and AAs we work with them to ensure good, safe patient care. Our regulation has been helping provide assurance to patients, employers - and doctors that PAs and AAs have the right level of education and training, meet the standards that we expect, and that they can be held to account if serious concerns are raised.

‘The findings of the Review will be pivotal to how we work with others and continue to improve our regulatory practices. We look forward to working on the aspects of the report that relate to the GMC and with others where there is a shared responsibility to deliver change.

'As always, patient safety remains our absolute focus and priority.'