BMA appeals court decision to allow regulator to call PAs 'medical professionals'

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By Danny Halpin, PA Media

The British Medical Association is challenging a judge’s decision at the Court of Appeal after its claim over the General Medical Council's approach towards regulating physician and anaesthesia associates was dismissed.

The medical union previously brought a High Court legal challenge) against the General Medical Council (GMC), accusing the regulator of abandoning its responsibilities to patient safety by blurring the lines between doctors and non-doctors.

The legal claim was brought over the GMC’s Good Medical Practice (GMP) 2024 – guidance that came into effect last year that sets standards of conduct for members of the professions regulated by the body.

The BMA previously told the High Court that the GMC was using the term “medical professionals” to describe all those it regulates, including physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) when it should only be used to refer to qualified doctors.

PAs are being renamed as physician assistants following the Leng review into the safety and effectiveness of the roles.