Anaesthesia associate
In the United Kingdom, an anaesthesia associate (AA) is a healthcare worker who provides anaesthesia under the medical direction and supervision of a consultant anaesthetist (who is a medical doctor).[1] Anaesthesia associates complete a 27-month full-time training programme which leads to the award of a postgraduate diploma, or alternatively a 24-month training programme via University College London leading to a master's degree.[2] It is classed as a medical associate profession. To be eligible, a candidate must have a previous degree in a biomedical or science subject, or recognised previous healthcare experience in another role.[3]
The role was introduced into the UK National Health Service in 2004, under the title of Anaesthesia Practitioner. This was later changed to physicians' assistant (anaesthesia), abbreviated to PA(A). The Association of Physicians' Assistants Anaesthesia changed the name of their role to Anaesthesia Associates in July 2019.[4] In July 2019, the UK government announced its intention to request that the General Medical Council (GMC) would in future regulate anaesthesia associates as a distinct profession.[5] The GMC started regulation of the profession in December 2024 and also provided quality assurance of all three of the AA courses in the UK in April 2025.[6][7]
Serious concerns about the lack of regulation, transparency of professional background, and scope of practise, of anaesthesia associates have been raised by Anaesthetists United, a grass-roots group of anaesthetists, triggering an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) on 17 October 2023. All six motions were passes with significant majorities including on a call to pause recruitment of AAs until the RCoA consultation had been completed and the professional standard to inform patients clearly when AAs are involved in their care and their role.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Physicians' Assistant (Anaesthesia)". Royal College of Anaesthetists. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ "Anaesthesia and Perioperative Science MSc". Prospective Students Graduate. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ "Training, development and registration (physicians' assistant - anaesthesia)". Health Careers. NHS Education England. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ Mehmood, Irfan (27 May 2019). "'Anaesthesia Associate' the new title for Physicians' Assistant (Anaesthesia)". Association of Anaesthesia Associates.
- ^ "Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament".
- ^ "Implementing PA and AA regulation - progress so far". General Medical Council. 30 April 2025.
- ^ "GMC approves 36 PA and AA courses in landmark regulatory milestone". General Medical Council. 30 April 2025.
- ^ "Outcome of the RCoA Extraordinary General Meeting on 17 October 2023 | The Royal College of Anaesthetists". rcoa.ac.uk. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ Whitaker, Phil (4 November 2023). "'Associate' medics were meant to assist doctors, not replace them". The New Statesman.
