Anaesthesia Associates debated in parliaments
This week the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order – the legislation to introduce regulation of both professions – was debated by the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. In advance of this, we shared our position statement with members of the committee. During the debate, Scottish Conservative MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane referenced our recent meeting with him and also raised the issue of the cost of regulating an associate role, saying ‘the cost of regulating a PA will be half the cost of regulating a doctor, and the Government is putting in money to subsidise the regulation process.’ He additionally raised the issue of scope of practice, emphasising the need for a clearly defined scope of practice which would allow for better regulation.
Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney raised points made by the Association in our position statement, highlighting the importance of distinction of registration, he said “the association has highlighted the issue of distinction of registration. Although it welcomes the fact that AAs and PAs will have different registration numbers to distinguish them from doctors under GMC registration numbers, it is also calling for a register, either online or in print, that is separate and distinct from that for doctors in order to “provide absolute clarity for patients and others accessing the registers.”
He went onto say on scope of practice, “The Association of Anaesthetists has also raised concerns relating to the scope of practice. It highlights that there should be “a national scope of practice for AAs both on their qualification and for any post qualification extension of practice. Any future changes to scope should be developed in conjunction with the regulator and should be agreed at a national level. It believes that it should not be for individual health boards to determine such changes.”
At Westminster, the Order was debated by the Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee. Again we shared the position statement with those involved in the Committee and it was used by a number of speakers.
Further debates are expected in both the House of Lords and the Scottish Parliament and we will contacting all those likely to speak to make them aware of our concerns and ask them to raise issues on our behalf.