Overview

• Health Secretary Wes Streeting commissioned the review after six patient deaths and widespread use of physician associates as doctor substitutes raised safety alarms.
• The report bans PAs from diagnosing undifferentiated or untriaged patients and restricts them to treating triaged adults with minor ailments under national clinical protocols.
• It proposes renaming physician associates to “physician assistants” and anaesthesia associates to “physician assistants in anaesthesia” to eliminate confusion with doctors.
• Newly qualified PAs must complete a mandatory two-year hospital-based postgraduate training course before working in GP practices or mental health trusts.
• Each PA will be supervised by a named doctor under standardized identification measures and enhanced leadership training for supervisors.