Review of the role of Physician Assistants
This page contains information on RCPsych's comprehensive review of the role of Physician Assistants.
Guidance on Physician Assistants working in mental health
The Review Group has produced the following guidelines for employers, supervisors and practitioners to ensure PAs practice is safe, and governance processes are clear around their supervision and employment.
Please note that we have amended the nomenclature in our guidance from ‘Physician Associates’ to ‘Physician Assistants’ following the recommendation from the Leng review as this is something the College has been advocating for. We will use this terminology with immediate effect. This change will also be reflected on our webpages.
If what you'd like to know is not covered below, please submit a question to Question Time with the Officers (members access only).
Membership of the Task and Finish Group included:
- RCPsych Dean (co-chair)
- Chair of RCPsych Psychiatric Trainees’ Committee (co-chair)
- RCPsych President
- Trainee representative
- Chair of RCPsych Specialty Doctor and Associate Specialist Committee
- RCPsych Specialist Advisor for Workforce
- RCPsych Faculty Chairs' representative
- RCPsych Division Chairs' representative
- RCPsych Devolved Nation representatives
- RCPsych Patient and Carer representative (Co-Opted)
- Educational and Workforce representatives from NES, NIMDTA, HEIW and NHSE (Co-Opted)
- Physician Associate in Mental Health (Co-opted)
- Employer Representatives from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
Staff members:
- RCPsych Director of Professional Standards
- RCPsych Head of Training and Workforce
- RCPsych Workforce and Retention Manager
Other experts and colleagues may be co-opted onto the group and/or invited to participate as required.
- To review the role of Physician Associates and how they can contribute to the work of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and support the delivery of Mental Health care as part of the MDT.
- To review the scope of practice and limitations of Physician Associates working in Mental Health.
- To review the supervision requirements of Physician Associates working in Mental Health.
- To invite input from key stakeholders including, but not limited to:
College Members, Employers across the four nations of the UK, Physician Associates, General Medical Council, British Medical Association, NHS England, NHS Education for Scotland, Health, Education and Improvement in Wales, Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of GPs, Royal College Paediatrics and Child Health, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), those involved in workforce optimisation initiatives and other experts in the field. - To develop an action plan for the college’s future work with Physician Associates and sharing of review outcomes with stakeholders.
- written evidence
- oral evidence and interviews with external and internal stakeholders
- discussions with other organisations - partners, experts by experience, other Colleges
- talking to people who are affected by the issue
- research
- seeking public views on the issue
