NHS Employers response to plans to regulate MAPs

Responding to the announcement by the government that they will lay legislation later this week to regulate physician associates and anaesthesia associates, the co-chairs of NHS Employers Working Group on Workforce Reform Danny Mortimer and Professor Andrew Goddard said:

“Medical associate professionals (MAPs) are a relatively new but increasingly important part of clinical teams, working to support doctors as part of the wider team in caring for our patients. In common with other parts of the world we have seen the important contribution that colleagues in MAPs roles make to patient care. The step now being taken to implement statutory regulation of physician associates and anaesthesia associates as legally distinct and separate professions is a recognition of the strong professional ethos of MAPs over the last 20 years and helps set clear standards for their future development and accountability to the public.  

“All parts of the NHS share a desire to improve patient safety and effective teamwork, and mutual respect is an essential part of this endeavour. The move to statutory regulation by the end of 2024 is a significant and very welcome development that helps address the concerns expressed by some medical colleagues and by MAPs themselves.  

“At the same time, statutory regulation is not a replacement for proper oversight, direction and governance within individual employers.  We look forward to working with employers, regulators, trade unions and professional bodies to ensure that MAPs receive adequate support in their workplaces alongside the establishment of statutory regulation.”

Danny Mortimer is chief executive of NHS Employers. 

Professor Andrew Goddard is a consultant gastroenterologist at Royal Derby Hospital.