RCP members vote to limit physician associate roles amid calls for president to resign

Physician associates: GMC calls for views on regulation

“…The GMC’s consultation comes as doctors continue to raise concerns about the expansion of PA and AA numbers and roles. In March, members and fellows of the Royal College of Physicians voted overwhelmingly to limit the pace and scale of the rollout of PAs 3…”

Dark days for the Royal College of Physicians of London

“…In the days following the EGM, college officers bowed to pressure and released the full results of the member survey6; an online vote of fellows carried all motions of concern overwhelmingly7; and there were demands for an independent inquiry.…”

“…Perhaps the one positive outcome has been that RCP London is now in no doubt as to the views of its members (over 2000 of whom responded to the survey6) and its fellows (over 4000 of whom voted on the EGM motions7). Doctors’ key concerns are clear: PAs’ scope of practice (and the implications for patient safety), supervision and accountability, candour (patients are not always aware that the person seeing them is not a doctor), loss of training opportunities for doctors, how PA roles will be evaluated, and the need to proceed cautiously when rolling out a role that has not yet been shown to be safe or cost-effective.…”

Rebalancing risks in favour of benefits

“…The ongoing row over physician associates, which has damaged the Royal College of Physicians, is all about risks (doi:10.1136/bmj.q732, doi:10.1136/bmj.q737). 1112 The risks associated with the GMC’s newly proposed changes to medical education are causing alarm (doi:10.1136/bmj.q728, doi:10.1136/bmj.q708). 1314 The risks from industrial action (doi:10.1136/bmj.q717)15 are at the heart of a dispute between NHS England and the BMA.…”