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<p>The assessment of the appropriate regulatory body for physician associate (PA)
and anaesthesia associate (AA) regulation was completed in 2019. On 7 February 2019,
the Government published its response to the consultation on the Regulation of Medical
Associate Professions in the United Kingdom, confirming its decision to introduce
statutory regulation for PAs and AAs. Most respondents to the consultation were in
favour of the General Medical Council (GMC) taking on regulation.</p><p>Following
further work by the Department, on 18 July 2019, the Government announced that it
would be asking the GMC to regulate both roles. No further assessments have been made
of the potential merits of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) regulating
PAs and AAs and there have been no recent discussions with the HCPC on this matter.</p><p>Regulation
by the GMC will mean that the organisation will have responsibility and oversight
of all three professions allowing them to take a holistic approach to the education,
training, and standards of the roles. This will enable a more coherent and co-ordinated
approach to regulation and, by making it easier for employers, patients, and the public
to understand the relationship between these roles and doctors, help to embed them
in the workforce.</p><p>On 13 December 2023, the Department laid draft legislation
in both Houses and in the Scottish Parliament that will empower the GMC to commence
regulation for the two roles by the end of 2024.</p>
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