The LMC has received queries from practices who currently employ physician associates in our region. The national stance and guidance on this has changed significantly since practices first employed PAs locally.
The BMA’s General Practitioners Committee for the UK (GPC UK) has voted in favour of stopping hiring physician associates in general practice, and for existing roles to be phased out. The RCGP’s governing UK Council has also voted to oppose a role for physician associates working in general practice.
The European Union of General Practitioners (UEMO) has expressed its concern with the deployment of MAPs (medical associate professionals) and called on governments across Europe to legislate prohibiting the unsupervised initial assessment, unverified diagnosis, treatment, and discharge of the undifferentiated patient by MAPs.
We recognise this makes things very challenging for practices and especially partners as employers. We have asked the BMA for legal advice on where GP partners will stand if they continue to employ PAs working outside the scope recommended by both the BMA and RCGP guidance. The informal feedback we have had so far is that, while this guidance is not mandatory, partners would need to have clear reasons for not following this and be able to demonstrate what systems they have in place to address the concerns raised by both the BMA and RCGP.
The decision about the ongoing role of PAs will be very individual for each practice and PCN and depend significantly on their roles and supervision within each setting. You may find the BMA guidance on Physician Associates in general practice and also the RCGP guidance useful. Please get in touch with the LMC if you would like further support and advice on your practice’s particular situation.
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