Leng review to consider if ‘enhanced’ PA scope of practice needed

Prof Gillian Leng CBE ©Royal Society of Medicine/ YouTube 2024

By Erin Dean

The potential need for an “enhanced” scope of practice for physician and anaesthesia associates will be considered as part of the independent review of the roles.

This was included in new details published by the government on Thursday about what the review will cover.

Health secretary Wes Streeting announced the review of PAs and AAs in November “to agree recommendations for the future”.

Among the areas that former head of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Professor Gillian Leng, will consider is the scope of practice for the medical association profession (MAP) roles at the start of their career.

But the review will not cover detailed scope of practice by setting or for “more senior practitioners with bespoke training and experience”.

It will also not consider the role of other MAPs (surgical care practitioner roles) or pay levels for PAs and AAs.

Leng will consider the levels of supervision and oversight required for MAPs, and whether resident doctor training is being affected by the roles.