The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has written to health secretary Wes Streeting and NHS England CEO Amanada Pritchard calling for a rapid review into the role of physician associates and anaesthesia associates in the NHS.
The roles, collectively known as medical associate professionals, are set to undergo a significant expansion under current NHSE plans. The long-term workforce plan aims for there to be 10,000 PAs by 2036/37 and 2,000 AAs.
The AoMRC letter, which has been penned by chair Dr Jeanette Dickson, highlights the continuous furore surrounding MAPs and the increasing concern for patient safety.
Rapid review
The letter has called for a rapid review into the role of MAPs across the various healthcare settings – primary, secondary, community care etc.
The investigation should centre around three main themes, according to the academy, which are:
- Patient safety – are MAPs more likely than doctors to evidence behaviour that could endanger patients?
- Cost effectiveness – are MAPs fulfilling their role without increasing taxpayer costs and do they actually free up doctors’ time?
- Efficiency – can MAPs work without close supervision and do they improve overall quality of care?
Impeccable credentials
The AoMRC says it has no particular preference to who carries the review out – nor who officially commissions it – but it should be someone with “impeccable credentials for impartiality and neutrality” who can conduct the investigation “at pace with great thoroughness and academic rigour.”
“Only if these last three criteria are met do we think we will be able to support their continued roll-out – provided, of course, that’s what the evidence tells us,” said Dr Dickson.
“If the evidence tells us that the whirlwind of anecdotes and claims on social media are in fact correct, I am sure you will agree, it will give us all cause for thought.”
The regulation of MAPs is set to fall under the purview of the General Medical Council at the end of 2024.
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