Susan Pollitt
A similar concern from this report was raised again 1 time later. See the linked reports.
The coroner's concerns
1. lack of regulatory oversight of Physician Associates
“There is no regulatory body with oversight of Physician Associates”
2. voluntary register without mandatory employer verification
“The Physicians Associate Managed Voluntary Register held by the Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA) is voluntary”
3. absence of national training and supervision standards
“There is no national framework as to how Physician Associates should be trained, supervised and deemed competent”
4. role confusion due to title and lack of uniform
“There remains limited understanding and awareness of the role of a Physician Associate both amongst medical colleagues, patients and their families”
5. inadequate competency assessment for ascitic drain insertion
“In June 2022 the Physicians Associate had been signed off as competent for the insertion of ascetic drains”
Linked reports
This report
“There remains limited understanding and awareness of the role of a Physician Associate both amongst medical colleagues, patients and their families.”
Later report
“Lack of public understanding of the role of Physician Associate”
Responses
2024-0416-Response-from-DHSC.pdf ↗· Faculty of Physician Associates
Stated action · December 2024
“We are clear that statutory regulation is necessary for PAs and anaesthesia associates (AAs) and the UK and Scottish parliaments approved legislation in early 2024 which provides a legal duty for the GMC to regulate PAs and AAs from December 2024.”
2024-0416-Response-from-Faculty-of-Physician-Associates.pdf ↗· Faculty of Physician Associates
2024-0416-Response-from-GMC.pdf ↗· Department of Health and Social Care
Stated action · December this year
“the GMC will become the regulator of PAs and anaesthesia associates (AAs) in December this year.”
2024-0416-Response-from-Royal-College-of-Physicians.pdf ↗· Faculty of Physician Associates
Stated action · 31 March 2025
“The RCP has confirmed that the FPA will close in December, along with the PAMVR. The initial transfer of PAMVR data from the RCP to the GMC will begin on 31 October 2024. The GMC register will open on 13 December 2024, when regulation begins, but will continue to be voluntary for the first two years. The PAMVR will remain static, but searchable, until 31 March 2025 when it will be closed.”