GMC spends almost £56,000 in legal fees defending PA cases

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By Daniel Pye

The General Medical Council has spent nearly £56,000 so far defending legal cases related to physician associates and anaesthesia associates, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

The FOI request, submitted by Pulse, asked for the total legal fees and costs associated with the legal challenges brought by the British Medical Association and campaign group Anaesthetists United.

As of 21 March, the GMC had paid £39,816 in relation to the BMA case and £16,062 for the AU case from the point at which the pre-action letter was received.

The BMA case was heard at the Royal Courts of Justice in London over 2 days in February. The judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, is currently formulating her written judgment.

The AU case is due to be heard on 13 May, according to the campaigners. AU claims to have spent £175,000 in legal fees so far and needs to raise another £50,000 to continue its case.