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Association of Anaesthetists welcomes UK Government review of physician and anaesthesia associates

In late November, the Association of Anaesthetists released a statement welcoming the announcement of an independent review of physician associates and anaesthesia associates.

The review will consider how these roles are deployed across the health system, to ensure that patients get the highest standards of care. It will also look into the safety of these roles, how they support wider health teams, and their place in providing patients with good quality and efficient care. It will also look at how effectively these roles are deployed in the NHS, while offering recommendations on how new roles should work in the future.

 

Association of Anaesthetists statement

In its statement, the Association of Anaesthetists said there are many questions around both roles which remain unresolved, including the scopes of practice they will work to, how supervision will work, the impact of medical associate professional (MAP) roles on the training of resident doctors and the legal liabilities of supervisors. The Association said it hopes that the review will address these issues as a minimum and that it looks forward to contributing to the review.

 

Association of Anaesthetists position statement on Anaesthesia Associates

A position statement on Anaesthesia Associates published in September 2024 by the Association of Anaesthetists says, “anaesthesia provision in the UK should continue to be led by and delivered by doctors.”

“AAs are valuable members of the anaesthesia team in addition to doctors, but they are not a solution to the current workforce crisis, nor to the growing waiting lists.”

“We continue to call for expansion in consultant numbers, an expansion in training scheme places for doctors in anaesthesia, and for the development of the large number of Specialty Doctors and locally-employed doctors already in post. Creation of SAS Specialists and consultants via the GMC’s new portfolio pathway would create many more independent doctors in anaesthesia.”

The review is due to report in [UK] spring 2025.

 

For more information

Terms of reference for the independent review of the physician associate and anaesthesia associate professions

UK Government (20 November 2024). Press release, New review of physician and anaesthesia associates launched.

Nicole Winchester (2 December 2024). Government review of physician and anaesthesia associates. House of Lords Library.

The Association of Anaesthetists (21 November 2024). Association statement on the review of physician and anaesthesia associates.

British Medical Association (20 November 2024). Government review into PAs must lead to immediate safety measures, says BMA.

The Association of Anaesthetists (September 2024). Position statement on Anaesthesia Associates.