We’ve briefed peers ahead of a debate in the House of Lords on the Leng review into physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs).
The short debate has been secured by Green Party peer Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle.
Baroness Bennett will ask the Government ‘what the review, announced by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 20 November, of the physician associate and anaesthetist associate roles will cover; and what actions they plan to take in advance of the outcome’.
The debate takes place tomorrow (Thursday 5 December) and is due to last one hour.
Lords briefing
DAUK arranged a briefing session ahead of the debate, which was facilitated by Baroness Bennett.
It was attended by our committee member and former co-chair Dr Matt Kneale; Richard Marks, co-founder of Anaesthetists United; and Dr Asif Qasim, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.
Dr Kneale stressed DAUK wanted to ensure a fair review process, and that we have significant concerns about transparency from stakeholders who have been obfuscating and preventing access to data, such as with the General Medical Council’s (GMC) public consultation.
Dr Kneale moved the discussion to general practice.
He said practices needed urgent clarity around redundancies of PAs following recent developments from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) – whose governing council voted to oppose a role for PAs in September – particularly in light of other financial pressures such as National Insurance changes.
Physician associates
Dr Kneale said DAUK was aware of practices being sued by PAs, despite them following proper redundancy procedures. This was a source of anxiety and concern, he said.
There was a consensus that there must be a national scope of practice and that the GMC must be the ones to set this, or to agree to follow national college scope.
There was also heavy focus on ‘supervision’ and how so far this has been inadequate.
Dr Kneale said: “This important debate will focus on issues around the review of physician associates and anaesthesia associates, which was recently announced by the Government.
“We’re pleased to have been given the opportunity, along with colleagues from other medical organisations, to brief members of the House of Lords to help inform this discussion.
Patient safety
“DAUK is ready to submit evidence to the review, which must hear from all stakeholders, including patients.
“And while the review is welcomed, there are concerns around the transparency of the process to get us to this point, which is why it needs to be open and thorough and have patient safety at its core.”
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