The chair of the GMC will address Pulse Live Liverpool tomorrow (Tuesday 12 November), arguing that the regulation of physician associates will benefit patient care.
While physician associates cannot replace doctors, they can ‘complement’ them and they should not have to face ‘belittling’ comments, Dame Carrie MacEwen will tell delegates in her keynote speech.
She will also point out that, as it stands, general practice is ‘not on a sustainable footing’.
On impending GMC regulation of PAs and anaesthesia associates (AAs) she will say: ‘It will reassure the public that those treating them are appropriately qualified and will be held accountable for their actions. And it will help support the development of these professions, which already play a crucial role in meeting modern health needs.
‘PAs and AAs are not doctors and they cannot replace them. What they can do, though, is complement doctors’ skills by working alongside them, freeing up doctors to do what only they can do.’
Dame Carrie will also argue that the current discourse around PAs and AAs has at times crossed a line from civility into toxicity. And she was ‘disturbed’ to learn, from a recent survey, that nearly two-thirds of PA and AA students had faced negative comments during placements, often from doctors.
‘Scrutiny and challenge, done in good faith, play a vital role. But when that scrutiny descends into destructive discourse and social media scapegoating, the line between civility and toxicity has been crossed.
‘Reports of name-calling and belittling behaviour should give us all pause for thought. The denigration of others cannot be permitted under the guise of ‘patient safety’. Compassion and courtesy are the duty of all doctors, as they are of all members of the multidisciplinary team. Because safe care is dependent on supportive, open and respectful working environments.’
Meanwhile, on the sustainability of general practice, Dame Carrie will argue that ‘fresh thinking’ is required.
The GMC chair will say: ‘GPs are working hard to insulate patients from the ill effects of a strained system. But it’s painfully clear, to public and profession alike, that general practice is not on a sustainable footing.
‘Something, or perhaps many things, have to change. More of the same just means more of the same – overburdened doctors who can’t give their patients the care they need and deserve. We have to confront this challenge. Doing so requires fresh thinking.’
The GMC has confirmed that regulation of PAs and AAs will begin on 13 December, but registration will not be legally required for another two years.
The one-day Pulse Live conference will also feature a packed schedule of clinical content and allow for extensive GP networking.
‘Something, or perhaps many things, have to change. More of the same just means more of the same – overburdened doctors who can’t give their patients the care they need and deserve. We have to confront this challenge. Doing so requires fresh thinking.’
No, what it requires is fresh funding and being treated on an equal footing with secondary care. What it doesn’t require are lots of attempts to replace our profession with less-qualified staff that we end up taking responsibility for anyway.
The *very raison d’etre* of the GMC is to distinguish between those who are allowed to practice as doctors, and those who aren’t. They should not be blurring the lines like this when other perfectly satisfactory regulatory options exist for other professions.
PAs certainly need regulation, appraisal, revalidation, and career/education supervision, yes, I do not think anyone questioned that.
I think what has been severely questioned is whether this is best achieved by the General MEDICAL Council giving them ‘Registration’ with the risk it may become confused or conflated with being Registered with the GMC, which implies ‘as a Medical Practutioner’, which implies fully trained to the set standard GMC applies to General Medical Registrants, ie Doctors.
The GMC does not appear to have given adequate reassurances on these points, as yet to be able to conclude that debate.
Any other trade, if its own regulator was undermining them to the point of potential extinction by Pretend Artistes (PAs), would down tools and walk out.
The rubbish BMA counters the multiple disasters facing general practice with its so-called “industrial action” which no-one has noticed. Dame Carrie, with her disingenuous arguments, represents government interests (hence corporate interests). Shameful and very sad. A crappy salaried service is just round the corner.
GMC = *regulatory capture*
Dame McEwen, Chair of the GMC ,says that ‘ PAs and AAs are not doctors’, then why does the GMC publish MPTS tribunals against doctors while referring to PAs as doctors?
I
Paragraph 4b point 64 :
‘Dr G was the PA at the time of the events’
https://www.gmc-uk.org/api/gmc/lrmpdocuments/download?dr=6090878&document=72369549&documentType=hearing
Regulating the PAs and AAs isn’t the issue. The HCPC should be regulating them. The GMC knows this.
GMC are politicians dressed in doctor clothing. Glad I’ve left UK everyday.