BMA Guidance on physician associates

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. 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.