Call for evidence outcome

Independent review of physician associates and anaesthesia associates: survey of healthcare professionals

From:

Department of Health and Social Care

Published:

7 March 2025

Last updated:

16 July 2025

Show all updates

16 July 2025
Added summary of responses report.
14 March 2025
Updated the descriptive text in the 'Day-to-day practice of physician/anaesthesia associates' sections of the online survey to clarify that the questions apply to both frequency of current practice and appropriateness for future practice. Text amended to: 'The next series of questions will firstly ask you whether physician/anaesthesia associates carry out specific activities in your service as part of their current practice. You will also be asked whether you believe it is appropriate for them to do these tasks in the future.'
10 March 2025
Updated to correct the answer options to one question. Removed the 'Anaesthetist' option and replaced it with 'Consultant' in the first question of the AA section: 'Do you work (currently or previously) as one of the following?'.
7 March 2025
First published.

Applies to England

Read the full outcome

Independent review of physician associates and anaesthesia associates call for evidence: summary of responses

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Detail of outcome

The Leng review received 6,864 responses to the online survey about physician associates, and 1,694 responses to the online survey about anaesthesia associates. This document summarises the responses received.

Responses to the surveys informed the Independent review of the physician associate and anaesthesia associate roles: final report of the Leng review.

To request an accessible version of this document, email leng.review@dhsc.gov.uk.

Original call for evidence

Summary

The Leng review is seeking views from healthcare professionals to understand the day-to-day practice of AAs and PAs, and the development of these roles.

This call for evidence ran from
7 March 2025 to 11:59pm on 30 March 2025

Call for evidence description

There has been a minor change to the wording of one question. Survey responses given before 10 March will still be considered in the Leng review.

We have updated the descriptive text in the ‘Day-to-day practice of physician/anaesthesia associates’ sections of the online survey to clarify that the questions apply to both frequency of current practice and appropriateness for future practice.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has established an independent review of the physician associate (PA) and anaesthesia associate (AA) professions to:

consider the safety of the roles and their contribution to multidisciplinary healthcare teams
make recommendations to inform future government policy

The conclusions of the review will help to inform the refreshed workforce plan that the government has committed to publish in summer 2025.

This survey of healthcare professionals is targeted at AAs, PAs and those that work with them. The 2 roles are considered separately and respondents will be asked to choose the role most relevant to them when responding. It is one part of a multi-method approach to evidence gathering.

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