RCEM pushes back following BMA criticism of advanced practitioners

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By Erin Dean

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has strongly backed advanced practitioners following the British Medical Association’s latest report raising concerns about the roles carrying out doctor duties.

RCEM said advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) are an “established, highly skilled and valued component” of teams in emergency departments (EDs).

College president Dr Ian Higginson said he was “frustrated and sad” to see the impact of the debate on his ACP colleagues.

While he said he understood concerns about medical substitution, he criticised the BMA for threatening the respect and trust needed in clinical teams.

As tension built around the issue, campaign group Doctors’ Association UK said it backed the BMA’s call this week to ban APs on doctors’ rotas – and called for unity from the medical profession.

Co-chair Dr Matt Kneale said: “Doctors should speak with one voice on these boundaries while treating nursing colleagues with respect.”

Divisions appeared as the BMA published a dossier of doctors’ accounts of when patient safety has been put at risk.