- Conference
- 2024 National Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 27 March 2024
- Decision
- Carried
Conference is concerned by the heated and at times unpleasant debate that has been growing around the roles of physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) in the NHS.
Conference notes that several issues have caused the debate to intensify in recent weeks – the laying of the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order (AAPAO) on 13 December and, most significantly, the lead-up to the legislation for the regulation by the GMC of AAs and PAs being given Royal Assent on 13 March 2024. The debate during the lead-up resulted in the publication on 7 March 2024 by the British Medical Association (BMA) of suggested guidance on the role of PAs; a vote by the Royal College of Physicians on a pause to further rollout of the PA role; statements from the Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA) and NHS Employers in response to the BMA’s suggested guidance.
The contention and hostility stirred up by these developments including unilateral attempts to define and restrict the scope and role of Medical Associate Professions (MAPs) have left these staff incredibly vulnerable and fearful about what all this will mean for them now and in the future.
Conference believes that guidance on the role of PAs needs to be developed collaboratively involving appropriate bodies including the FPA, employer organisations, and the professional associations and unions that represent MAPs themselves as well as those they work with.
Conference recognises that we are the union for MAPs, including PAs and AAs and that the PA role is a long-time established role within the NHS. We urgently need to show MAPs that we are there for them and will ensure their voice is heard in this debate.
PAs and AAs are soon to be regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC) and will need a strong voice behind them.
Based on member feedback we have promoted the need for statutory regulation of these professions, alongside a clear understanding of:
• roles and scope of practice
• safeguards around appropriate deployment
• ongoing training and development opportunities
• safe and effective supervision and support and
• accurate job descriptions with appropriate pay banding.
Conference is alarmed to hear anecdotal reports that the debate around the role of PAs and AAs has caused damage to individuals’ mental health.
Therefore, Conference calls on the Health Service Group Executive to:
1. Undertake a survey of our MAPs members, in particular to ask PA and AA members about their concerns about the current debate, how it is affecting them and what they feel about their future regulation;
2. Provide resources to help branches to recruit and organise MAPs at such a volatile time;
3. Make contact with other organisations associated with MAPs, in particular PAs and AAs, such as the FPA and the GMC, to ensure the voices of PAs and AAs are fully heard in the current debate and the future development of their roles;
4. Equip branches to provide support to PAs and AAs to deal with the fallout from this intensifying, bitter debate about their job roles;
5. Work towards ensuring we are prepared, as we do with other regulated professions, to support members through the regulation process and with any fitness to practice issues.