RCGP votes to oppose a role for physician associates in general practice

The Royal College of General Practitioners has changed position so it now opposes physician associates (PAs) working in general practice.1

In a vote of RCGP Council members on 20 September, 61% agreed to oppose the role of PAs working in general practice, with 31% disagreeing and 8% abstaining.

In June RCGP called for an immediate freeze on recruitment of PAs until regulation and scope of practice guidance is finalised.2 The warning was given after their survey of 5112 GPs found that half had seen examples of patient safety being compromised by the work of PAs.

As there are already around 2000 PAs working in general practice, RCGP Council has now approved …