The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) is seeking views on proposals to reform the regulation of healthcare professionals, including the statutory regulation of physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs).
Regulating healthcare professionals, protecting the public seeks views on proposals that DHSC has developed in consultation with the professional regulatory bodies, and the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care.
In 2017, the RCP and its Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA) jointly responded to a consultation on the regulation of PAs and, in 2018, the Royal College of Physicians responded to Promoting professionalism, reforming regulation. Later in 2018, the secretary of state announced plans to move forward with the regulation of PAs.
Kate Straughton, president of the Faculty of Physician Associates, said: “The Faculty of Physician Associates and the RCP are pleased to welcome the Department of Health and Social Care’s consultation on the regulation of healthcare professionals. This is the next important step in the statutory regulation of PAs and AAs by the GMC.
“As the consultation says, regulation will be a significant step towards embedding PAs and AAs in the multidisciplinary healthcare workforce. We will be responding to the consultation, and urge all those who benefit from working alongside PAs and AAs to do the same.”
You can respond to the consultation online.
