RCoA welcomes the regulation of Physicians’ Assistants (Anaesthesia)

Responding to the Department of Health and Social Care’s decision to proceed with the regulation of Physicians’ Assistants (Anaesthesia), Professor Ravi Mahajan, President of the Royal College of Anaesthetists said:

“We welcome and fully support the regulation of Physicians’ Assistants (Anaesthesia) ( PA(A)s ). They play an important and valued role in improving anaesthetic services for NHS patients across the United Kingdom, under the supervision of a consultant anaesthetist.

“Statutory regulation of PA(A)s – something the College has long been advocating for – will provide the standardised framework of governance and assurance for the clinical practice and professional conduct that will enable these healthcare professionals to make a greater contribution to patient care.

“The professionalisation of new hospital roles is a welcome component in any comprehensive workforce plan, which must also include actions to address the persistent shortages of doctors and nurses and the consequential erosion of NHS staff’s morale and welfare.

“Healthcare relies on a multi-disciplinary team with a range of expertise and we are hopeful that, with further consideration, regulation of Advanced Critical Care Practitioners and Surgical Care Practitioners will be forthcoming.”