The survey was conducted and analysed by the independent research company, Research by Design (RbD). A comprehensive report setting out the detailed survey findings has been produced by RbD independently of Â鶹´«Ã½.
The publication of the data and analysis follows an interim statement made by Â鶹´«Ã½ on 31 October 2024 which called for a pause in recruitment of PAs in paediatrics, a step which was agreed with the Â鶹´«Ã½ Executive Committee following a clear mandate from survey respondents.
Furthermore, Â鶹´«Ã½ remains clear that PAs must not replace the role of paediatricians in the delivery of care to children and young people.
In publishing the independent report, Â鶹´«Ã½ has also put together its response which outlines:
- The key findings from the member consultation survey
- Good practice points for child health multidisciplinary teams
- Five key recommendations to Governments and health bodies across the UK
- Next steps for Â鶹´«Ã½
Separately, on 20 November, the UK Government announced an independent review of Physicians Associates to be conducted by Professor Gillian Leng CBE. This is a welcome step, and one which Â鶹´«Ã½ will seek to engage with. As such we will share this survey report with the review team, and offer to make available the full the anonymised datasets and thematic analysis of case studies. We believe these will be useful for government in bringing together a nationally led scope of practice for PAs. We also call on Professor Leng to consider children and young people a distinct patient cohort, given the particular safeguards that must be in place when caring for this patient population.
Â鶹´«Ã½ President, Professor Steve Turner said:
I am very grateful to the over 2,000 members who gave their time to complete the survey and share their views and experience on the use of Physician Associates in paediatrics.
As an organisation, we know that having a well-supported and skilled MDT is beneficial for children and young people and supports the robustness of the paediatric workforce. However, this only works when there is good knowledge of the different roles within the MDT, their skills and competencies.
We need to clarify the role of PAs in UK child health services both for the benefit of team members and our patients. We reiterate our call on government and national NHS bodies to take this forward as a priority, pausing recruitment to PA roles in paediatrics while this is developed. We remain clear that PAs must not replace the role of paediatricians in the delivery of care to children and young people.