The GMC has approved 33 physician associate (PA) courses following formal quality assurance checks carried out as part of its regulatory duties.
One course, at the University of East London, has not been granted approval due to concerns about the quality of teaching and course delivery.
Meanwhile, four of the 33 have been approved but with ‘conditions’. This applied to Bradford, Greater Manchester, Queen Mary University of London and Sheffield Hallam, and means that while can students can apply for registration, some concerns were identified during the approval process. Each of these courses now has a targeted action plan in place, so those concerns are addressed, the GMC said.
This is the first time course providers have been subject to formal quality assurance by the GMC. However, since the organisation took on the regulation of PAs in December last year, overseeing and approving training courses is a key component, it said.
And it means practices, patients, employers and colleagues can be assured that PAs ‘have the required knowledge and skills to practise safely once they qualify’, the GMC added.
The approved PA courses have a combined capacity for up to 1,059 PAs to qualify each year.
Professor Colin Melville, the GMC’s Medical Director and Director of Education and Standards, said this was an ‘important milestone in the regulation of PAs and AAs and will provide assurance, now and in the future, that those who qualify in these roles have the appropriate skills and knowledge that patients rightly expect and deserve.
‘As a regulator, patient safety is paramount, and we have a robust quality assurance process for PA and AA courses, as we do for medical schools. We have been engaging with course providers for several years already, and we only grant approval where they meet our high standards.’
Engagement with course providers to assess standards began before PAs officially came under GMC regulation last year. The assessment process included two annual returns on how they meet standards, at least one in-person visit, and a review of the course syllabus against the PA national curriculum.
The course at the University of East London, which has not been approved, will pause recruitment of new students until the GMC is assured its standards are being met. Awarding qualifications to current students have also been deferred.
‘The GMC will work closely with course leaders, educators and students at East London to monitor progress and ensure necessary improvements are made’, it said.
Since the regulation of existing PAs began last year, 2,358 PAs have been granted registration with the GMC.
