Physician Assistants
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is his proposed timeline for implementing changes to the scope of practice for physician associates.
Answered by Karin Smyth
The principle question of the Leng Review was to assess whether the roles of physician assistants and physician assistants in anaesthesia, still legally known as anaesthesia associates and physician associates, are safe and effective. The review’s findings were clear that, with changes in line with its recommendations, there remains a place for these roles to continue as supportive, complementary members of medical teams. The Government has accepted all 18 of the review’s recommendations.
NHS England has published a letter and a Frequently Asked Questions document, setting out what the accepted recommendations mean for employees and employers, both in the immediate and longer term. The Frequently Asked Questions document is available at the following link:
The Leng Review’s recommendations are far reaching and require cross-system partnership working to be considered, planned, and delivered effectively. We will work with NHS England, royal colleges, unions, and other relevant stakeholders as we develop a clear implementation plan to address the review’s 18 recommendations. Further information on implementation will be set out in due course.
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