GMC labels college’s PA guidance as ‘burdensome and restrictive’

GMC

By Sarah Lowden

The General Medical Council has raised concerns about guidance on the supervision of physician associates published by the Royal College of Physicians, describing parts of it as “somewhat burdensome and restrictive”.

In December, the RCP published an interim guidance document on the scope, supervision and employment of physician associates, which said “PAs must never function as a senior decision maker”, “PAs should only be supervised by consultants, specialist or associate specialist doctors” and resident doctors should not be expected to take on that responsibility.