PA employers must provide references to support registration

Employers of physician associates (PAs) will be required to provide a reference and an insurance and indemnity declaration as part of a PA’s application for registration with the GMC.

Around a third of PAs are hired through PCNs, with 1,171 currently employed through networks, according to the latest PCN workforce figures from September (see box below).

The regulation of PAs by the GMC is set to begin on 13 December, with registration open from 16 December. However, registration will not be legally required for another two years to allow for a transition period.

In a letter to employers last week, the GMC said PAs will need to provide a range of evidence to demonstrate knowledge, skills and behaviour to provide safe patient care. It said this would include an employer reference and an insurance and indemnity declaration.

The GMC clarified that this reference will need to be completed and signed by a supervising clinician who has oversight of the PA’s practice, which is likely to be the supervising GP.

‘We’d be grateful if you could support this process by making sure PAs, AAs [Anaesthesia Associates] and their supervisors are aware of and prepared for this requirement and requests that they may receive,’ said the letter.

PAs who have practised within the last five years will need an employer reference covering the most recent three months of employment. Supervisors will be provided with a specific form to complete, sign and date.

It added that most PAs will have indemnity cover under their employer’s scheme, but they will need to sign a declaration saying they have this in place when they apply for registration.

PA numbers gradually falling

It comes as the number of PAs employed by PCNs has slightly decreased over the past couple of months, compared with June, July and August. The role has now moved from the sixth most popular to the eighth. However, the number employed is still above the 1,165 employed in May (see box).

PAs and the regulation of the profession have been the subject of controversy within primary care, with the RCGP urging PCNs halt the recruitment of PAs in June.

Earlier last month, a body representing PAs shared new guidance to ‘support’ GP partners in employing PAs, warning that the use of ‘restrictive’ scope documents could result in legal challenge. 

This article was first published by our sister title Pulse PCN