Our response to consultation on regulating anaesthesia and physician associates

The GOsC welcomes the Government’s commitment to updating the legislative framework for all the health professional regulators to achieve ‘a modern, fit for purpose regulatory system’.

Published in February 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) consultation on the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates (AAPA) Order, which would bring Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates under the regulation of the General Medical Council, outlines the template for reforming the legislation of the remaining healthcare regulators.

Legislative change will give GOsC flexibility to be proportionate and agile to meet the changing needs of osteopaths, patients, our workforce and wider society without unnecessary prescription, balanced with appropriate accountability and transparency. A wholesale roll out of this legislation will also ensure that patients can expect consistency, whichever health professional they see.

Commenting on GOsC’s response, Chief Executive and Registrar Matthew Redford said: ‘We are grateful for the opportunity to provide our views on this important subject. Overall we consider that the Order has the potential to bring significant benefits to our regulatory approach by streamlining our outdated and prescriptive legislation.

‘However, we recognise the Order can and needs to be improved and we will continue to encourage the DHSC to reflect upon the responses received from healthcare regulators, and to revise the Order so that it achieves the best possible outcome for patients and healthcare professionals.’

Read more about our consultation response