The Royal College of Physicians and the British Medical Association (BMA) are among those who have raised concerns about the use of PAs and AAs.
The Royal College of Physicians and the British Medical Association (BMA) have raised concerns about the use of Physician Associates (PAs) and Anaesthetic Associates (AAs) in the NHS. A new study led by Professor Trisha Greenhalgh of the University of Oxford found no evidence that PAs are safe, with concerns that their roles may cost lives. The study highlighted that existing research on PAs focused only on low-risk settings and did not address complex procedures or independent decision-making. Coroners' reports have identified cases where PAs' lack of experience and training contributed to preventable deaths, such as in the cases of Pamela Marking and Emily Chesterton. PAs in the UK undergo two years of postgraduate training, compared to more extensive training in the US, and are not qualified to perform the same roles as doctors. The Royal College of Physicians has warned that PAs should not function as senior decision-makers, admit patients, or prescribe independently. The government has launched an independent review into these roles to address concerns about patient safety and the lack of evidence supporting the deployment of PAs and AAs.
