Preparing for the regulation of PAs and AAs: how feedback has shaped our approach

Published 4 December 2024
Dear colleagues,

Preparing for the regulation of PAs and AAs: how feedback has shaped our approach

Following my recent letter outlining key milestones leading up to the regulation of physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) on 13 December 2024, I’m writing to update you on how feedback has shaped our approach.

Since 2019, when the UK government, with the support of the devolved governments, asked us to take on this responsibility, we’ve worked with a wide range of organisations representing patients, doctors, PAs, AAs, employers and educators, to design and develop the policies and processes necessary for regulation to begin.

Earlier this year we sought views through a public consultation on the proposed rules, standards, and guidance that will underpin the regulation of PAs and AAs. The consultation covered the technical aspects of implementing the legislation passed by the UK and Scottish Parliaments, which legally requires us to regulate PAs and AAs from December 2024. To ensure we captured patient and the public perspectives, we also commissioned research involving focus groups and one-on-one interviews with a broadly representative sample from across the UK.

Insights from both the consultation and this research have been invaluable in shaping our final regulatory model, ensuring it’s clear, fair, and proportionate. We’ll soon publish a report on the outcome of the consultation and the research; along with the final drafts of the rules, standards, and guidance, following their review by our governing Council.

Addressing broader issues

Beyond the specific proposals in our consultation, we received comments on broader issues related to the roles and practice of PAs and AAs. While many of these matters fall outside our remit or have already been settled in law, we’ve carefully reviewed and considered every response. The report on the consultation outcome, will explain how we’ve addressed views that fall within our remit as a regulator. We’ll also share our findings with relevant bodies across the system, including employers and healthcare leaders, to encourage them to act on feedback that relates to their areas of responsibility.

We welcome the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s recent announcement of an independent review into the PA and AA professions in England. The ongoing discussions about PA and AA roles and deployment need to be addressed and the review is an important step towards achieving that and providing further clarity and assurance for patients, doctors, PAs, and AAs alike. We’ll share the outcome of the consultation with the review to help inform that important work.

As we have throughout the period we’ve been preparing to bring PAs and AAs into regulation, we continue to listen to views expressed across a range of platforms and fora, using these insights to inform our plans and decisions. For example, earlier this year we announced that the reference number we’ll assign to PAs and AAs will be pre-fixed with the letter ‘A’ to distinguish it from the purely numerical reference number given to doctors. In addition, we’ll also make sure that we prominently label each profession type on our public-facing registers, and in search functions. This means that in future when anyone searches our registers it will be very clear whether an individual is a doctor, a PA or an AA.

Looking ahead

The introduction of the regulation of PAs and AAs marks the first step towards broader reform of professional healthcare regulation in the UK. The legislation that underpins this regulation will serve as the basis for changes that will provide us with a more modern and responsive framework, enabling us to respond more quickly and flexibly, while supporting us to fulfil our legal duty to protect the public. We remain committed to working with the UK government on future reforms to the legislation governing our regulation of doctors.

Thank you again for your continued support. As we approach 13 December 2024, we remain focused on the positive impact that regulation will have on strengthening both patient safety and public trust in these professions.

Best wishes,

CHARLIE MASSEY
Chief Executive and Registrar
General Medical Council

Sent to:

  • Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
  • Chief Medical Officers in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales
  • Department of Health and Social Care England
  • Government officials in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
  • Health Education and Improvement Wales
  • NHS Confederation
  • NHS Education for Scotland
  • NHS Employers
  • NHS England
  • NHS Providers
  • Northern Ireland Medical & Dental Training Agency