The UK government will lay down legislation this week to allow the General Medical Council (GMC) to start regulating medical associates.
The legislation, due to be tabled on 13 December, will enable the GMC to regulate physician associates and anaesthesia associates. The government said that the move would improve patient safety and support plans to expand the number of medical associate roles in the NHS, relieving pressure on doctors.
But the BMA, which is opposed to the GMC regulating medical associates and has called for a pause in recruitment to these roles,1 described the move as “another slap in the …