Conditions affecting study or practice
Has a course provider, university or employer raised concerns about how a health condition affected your ability to study or work, that led to a formal process?
The formal process could be to support you, or to investigate the concerns. Usually a senior or HR manager, committee, hearing or similar decides what action to take after the process has finished.
What you need to tell us about health concerns affecting study and practice
We only need to know about concerns that led to a formal process
If someone raised a concern about how your health, or management of a serious communicable disease affected your studies or work, and that led to a formal process, it usually means you needed to take action to stay fit to work or continue your studies. We need to know about it, so we can check how you are now.
What you need to tell us about serious communicable diseases
A serious communicable disease is a disease that could result in serious illness if you pass it onto someone else.
Having a serious communicable disease, is not itself, a reason for us to have concerns about your fitness to practise. We don’t need you to tell us you have a serious communicable disease, unless a course provider, university or employer raised concerns about how you managed the condition, or about its impact on your ability to study or work, that led to a formal process.
What we consider is the risk you could pass it to a patient or a colleague and whether you are following independent medical advice. For more information, read our guidance about managing risks posed by your health in paragraphs 77-80 of Good medical practice.
What do we mean by ‘raise concerns about how a health condition affected your ability to work or study’?
A course provider, university or an employer usually raises concerns if they think a health condition affected your ability to work or study.
Here are some examples of when a course provider, university or an employer could raise concerns about how your health condition affected your ability to study or work:
- someone raised a concern because they were concerned or thought you behaved unprofessionally because your health condition affected you
- someone raised a concern because your health condition affected your ability to perform your role or duties on placement whilst studying
- someone raised a concern because you failed parts of your course or missed deadlines more than once
- someone raised a concern because you didn’t declare a serious communicable disease or follow independent medical advice or workplace advice about how to manage any risks relating to it.
What do we mean by a ‘formal process’?
We consider these bullet points to be part of a formal process:
- a formal meeting with an educational supervisor at a university or course provider, in which they raise concerns
- a formal meeting with a manager or supervisor in a workplace, in which they raise concerns
- a referral to a panel, hearing, committee or similar.
Outcomes of a formal process can include:
- a formally documented decision (in writing or by email) following any of the above activities that requires you to improve how you manage your condition
- any action taken, including health-related conditions imposed on your practice, if your behaviour or performance was affected by your health.
If a concern led to any of the bullet points above, you need to tell us about it when you apply.
What you don’t need to tell us about health concerns affecting study and practice
Disabilities
We believe that disabled PAs and AAs should be welcomed to the profession and valued for their contribution in healthcare. Having a disability doesn’t stop you practicing safely. The legal definition of a disability covers a range of conditions, including mental health conditions if they meet the criteria of the definition. You don’t need to tell us if you have a disability, unless a course provider, university or employer raised concerns about how you managed the condition, or about its impact on your ability to study or work, that led to a formal process.
Serious communicable diseases
You don’t need to tell us about time-limited, acute illnesses like chicken pox, measles, colds, flu or other conditions that resolve quickly on their own or with medical treatment. You don’t need to tell us if you know or suspect you have Covid-19. You should follow the current public health advice.
A formal process to adjust your studies or practice where no concerns have been raised
If you need to adjust your studies or practice because of a health condition, your course provider or employer will usually agree suitable adjustments to support you and allow you to continue to practise or study safely, for example, working or studying less than full time. In these circumstances we don’t need you to tell us about this when you apply. You only need to tell us if concerns were raised about how you managed your health condition or how your health condition affected your studies or practice.
Informal communication about a health condition
It is normal for your course provider or manager/supervisor to talk to you or email you informally after you’ve been unwell to make sure you’re well enough to return to work or study. We don’t consider this to be raising a concern, and you don't need to tell us about this when you apply.
Informal support processes
Sometimes your course provider or employer will support you with a health condition informally. This can take various forms including, offering you additional support to return to work or study after a period of absence due to a health condition. We don’t consider this support to be a formal process, and you don’t need to tell us about this when you apply.
What to do if you need to tell us about health concerns affecting study and practice
If concerns were raised about how your health affected your practice or studies, answer yes to the corresponding section of your application and give the following details:
- what the condition is or was and how it affected you and your studies or practise
- details of the formal process including, who was involved and what the outcome was
- dates when your health condition affected your studies or practice (for example, April–May 2020)
- details of any treatment you’ve received (including any engagement with specialists or support services)
- the status of the condition now (for example, resolved, being managed, treatment is ongoing).
Where the concern related to a serious communicable disease, in addition to the above, you also need to give us the following details:
- the name of the serious communicable disease you have
- whether you have received independent medical advice and if you have, what treatment plan you are following
- whether you told your current or future employer, or your course provider/university if you had the condition while studying there
- whether you have received and are following the advice of your course provider or employer to minimise any risk to patients and colleagues.
Does having a health condition mean you will have fitness to practise concerns?
Having a health condition (including a long-term condition) is not, itself, a reason for us to have concerns about your fitness to practise. What we consider is whether your health condition affects your ability to practise as a PA or AA or perform your duties on clinical placement while studying. Even if your health condition is serious, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t practise safely.
I’m still not sure whether I need to tell you about a health condition that has affected my study or work. What should I do?
If you’ve read this guidance and you’re still not sure, please do get in touch with one of our advisers for further advice.
