The Leng Review into the PA and AA professions yesterday (16 July) published its report and made 18 separate recommendations.
“The principal aim of the review was to determine whether the roles of PA and AA were safe and effective as members of an MDT. Secondary questions [included] what modifications might be required to improve confidence in the roles…”
Two key recommendations are in relation to the naming and ‘positioning of the roles’:
“The role of physician associate should be renamed as ‘physician assistant’, reflecting the role as a supportive, complementary member of the medical team”.
“Anaesthesia associates should be renamed as ‘physician assistants in anaesthesia’ or PAA…”
If implemented alongside the other recommendations will this help provide greater clarity for the public? Is the term ‘associate’ unhelpful or unclear?
A copy of the report is worth a read!