DAUK\u2019s Dr David Nicholl has joined 27 eminent colleagues in writing to the new Health Select Committee chair to express concerns Parliament was ‘misadvised’ over legislation for the regulation of physician associates (PAs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The doctors have written an open letter to Layla Moran MP following the findings of an independent inquiry which found serious governance failures at the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). The letter has also been sent to the Health Secretary Wes Streeting and to several members of the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The King’s Fund carried out the review into the RCP\u2019s handling of an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) called to discuss PAs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its report found \u2018a range of collective failures in leadership\u2019, \u2018a clear lack of accountability and due process\u2019, and \u2018a pervasive lack of trust and confidence in the College\u2019s governance\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now 28 eminent doctors, including Dr Nicholl, have written to Ms Moran ‘to express our considered view that Parliament was misadvised when the Royal College of Physicians of London was cited as approving of the Anaesthesia Associates and Physicians Associates Order earlier this year\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their letter continues: \u201cWe, the undersigned, were in the process of highlighting our concerns about the implications of the order to the college leadership on patient safety prior to the debate on the order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur attempts to do this through an EGM were delayed inappropriately. A recent Kings Fund report into the college identified a \u2018collective failure in leadership\u2019 in the college\u2019s approach to these occupations, with the Kings Fund noting that \u2018had the EGM been held before that point\u2019 (i.e. of the statutory instrument being debated), \u2018the concerns raised would have been fed into the parliamentary process and may have affected the passage of the legislation\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen the EGM was finally held, an overwhelming majority of Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians of London rejected the college\u2019s previous approach to physician associates, and the college is now working on ways to ensure that the care provided by this group of healthcare workers is safe for patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Our concerns are mirrored by other professional bodies and patient groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe would welcome the opportunity to set out our concerns to members of your committee, either in writing or in person, and look forward to hearing from you in due course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Responding to a post about the letter on X, formerly known as Twitter, Ms Moran said: “The Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee doesn\u2019t constitute until we have members, which won\u2019t be for at least another month \u2013 and then we need to get up to speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut once we do, we will start working on our programme of works. So please have patience with us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n