Over a thousand physician associates (PAs) are set to enter the NHS annually following the approval of numerous training courses by regulatory bodies. The General Medical Council (GMC) has formally endorsed 36 training programs for both PAs and anaesthesia associates (AAs), with an annual potential to qualify up to 1,059 PAs and 42 AAs. The GMC affirms that by approving these training programs, it ensures that patients, employers, and colleagues can rely on PAs and AAs possessing the necessary knowledge and skills to practice safely upon qualification. PAs undergo two years of postgraduate training after graduating, often with a degree in health or life sciences, and are able to perform a range of medical tasks under a doctor’s supervision.
The approval process was not without conditions for some courses, as four out of the approved PA courses at Bradford, Greater Manchester, Queen Mary University of London, and Sheffield Hallam had concerns raised during evaluation and were granted approval with conditions. The GMC confirmed that each of these courses has a plan in place to address the raised concerns. The University of East London’s course for PAs was not approved.
Courses for AAs are fewer, with three approved programs in Birmingham, University College London, and Lancaster. The formal recognition of these courses by the GMC marks an important step in regulating PAs and AAs, reinforcing patient safety and the quality of education these professionals receive.
Professor Colin Melville, the GMC’s medical director and director of education and standards, emphasized the importance of this development in ensuring that those practicing as PAs and AAs have the skillset and expertise patients deserve. The move comes in the wake of a tragic misdiagnosis case involving a PA, which has called for increased scrutiny of the PAs’ roles and the need for better regulation and patient protection protocols.
Separately, Wes Streeting, the health and social care secretary, announced in November an independent review of the PA and AA professions, led by Professor Gillian Leng of the Royal Society of Medicine. The chief executive of NHS Employers, Danny Mortimer, welcomed the accreditation of study courses for PAs and AAs as a critical component in ensuring public safety, though he awaited the outcomes of the Leng review.
Professor Phil Banfield, council chair at the British Medical Association, expressed concerns over the quality and robustness of these training programs, highlighting questionable examination practices and advocating for a more independent assessment of what can be encompassed within a two-year training period for assistant roles.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/apr/30/gmc-approves-36-courses-to-teach-more-than-1000-nhs-physician-associates
