Physician and Anaesthesia Associate Professions Independent Review
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to publish a description of the new job role for physician associates before implementation of the Leng Review.
Answered by Karin Smyth
NHS England has published a letter and a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document, setting out what the accepted Leng Review recommendations mean for employees and employers, both in the immediate and longer term. The document is available at the following link:
NHS England will consider the development of new model job descriptions for the roles of physician assistants (PAs) and physician assistants in anaesthesia (PAAs), still legally known as anaesthesia associates and physician associates, in consultation with key partners as part of any wider implementation plan. Whilst such model job descriptions would not be mandatory, they would provide guidance on the general duties of newly qualified PAs and PAAs for employers when recruiting.
Prior to implementing new job descriptions, these should be evaluated either through local primary care approaches or the National Health Service job evaluation scheme for secondary care providers.
In the meantime, employers of the roles should ensure their competencies and job activities are assessed to ensure they are appropriate, reflect the required work activities within the service, and that clinical governance and oversight of the roles is clearly documented.
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