FSRH consultation response: the regulation of MAPs in the UK by DH

FSRH welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation on the regulation of Medical Associate Professions (MAPs) in the UK by the Department of Health (DH).

FSRH agrees with the introduction of statutory regulation for PAs proposed by the four UK health departments. The Faculty understands that training and self-regulatory mechanisms are already in place to ensure that PAs deliver high-quality, safe patient care. However, whilst these are important and necessary tools to enable PAs to provide good care, they are not sufficient because PAs perform a range of activities that involve high risk to patients.

There are clear signs that PA roles will become increasingly central in the delivery of healthcare in a strained healthcare system, especially in primary care, which makes statutory regulation even the more urgent. Given this reality, FSRH acknowledges the constructive role that PAs play in providing healthcare and the potential for this occupation to tackle workload pressures in primary care and supports statutory regulation of PAs.

Statutory regulation would enable high standards of practice and competence to be set, requiring PAs to hold the right level and set of professional qualifications and ensuring the quality and safety of practice, thereby effectively protecting the health of the public. Statutory regulation would also help to elevate the status of this occupation, bringing in credibility to these healthcare professionals.

FSRH believes that PAs who deliver SRH care should be required to undertake appropriate SRH training such as that provided by the Faculty. FSRH calls for training to be consistently reinforced by regulation in order to guarantee the delivery of high-quality SRH care.

Download the full response to this consultation below