In response to member queries regarding the future management of physician associates (PAs) within their practices, please note the additional guidance below:

GP practices are entitled to follow BMA Guidance and RCGP guidance on employing PAs.

This guidance outlines an approach to help standardise practice and reduce variation in how physician associates (PAs) will work within the general practice setting. It is complementary to previously published BMA guidance:

• Focus on medical associate professionals (MAPs) in general practice
• Safe scope of practice for MAPs and
• Guidance for the supervision of MAPs.

The guidance aims to provide a framework to support physician associates to work safely in general practice, for patients, their employers, and GP supervisors. Whilst the guidance in this document does not bind practices who employ PAs, both this and the BMA’s preceding guidance provide a useful reference guide when PAs are working in general practice, to help support safe working.

However, it is for individual practices to decide whether to follow the guidance, and if they do decide to follow it, what steps to take to implement any changes.

A GP practice may decide to restructure how they deliver their services in order to follow the guidance.  If such a restructure results in duties being removed from one or more PA in the practice, this could result in a redundancy situation arising, i.e. where there is a reduced requirement for physician associates to carry out work of a particular kind.

As a GP partner, and BMA member, if redundancy is an option your practice is considering, or you have questions regarding how to manage the employment relationship with your physician associate, please contact the BMA Employer Advisory Service  at the earliest opportunity.