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PA GMC fees could be half of doctor rates

PA GMC fees could be half of doctor rates

GMC membership fees for physician associates (PAs) could be half the fee paid by doctors once the profession comes under regulation. 

Legislation which establishes the GMC as the statutory regulator for PAs and anaesthesia associates (AA) is currently making its way through Parliament and is likely to come into force at the end of this year. 

The regulator said on Friday that while no final decision has been made, it plans to set the fee for PAs and AAs ‘close to the current fee’ for the Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA), which is £221 per year. 

Currently, the standard rate for doctors is £433 annually for registration with the GMC, which is almost double the potential rate for PAs. 

But the regulator clarified that the doctors’ fee will not be used to fund the regulation of PAs. 

The GMC also confirmed recently that PAs will get a seven-digit reference number with an alphabetical prefix in order to distinguish them from doctors, but that there are no plans to change the title of PAs to avoid patient confusion. 

Last week, the regulator posted on X: ‘Part of our work to prepare for regulation of PAs and AAs is to review and agree fee levels for these professions. 

‘We’ll make a final decision on what these fees will be later this year. While we’ve said we plan to set fees for PAs and AAs close to the current fee for the FPA voluntary register, this is subject to change. 

‘PA/AA and doctor fees will differ as we take a range of factors into account when setting fees and align them with the cost of regulating each profession.

‘Doctors’ fees aren’t used to cover the introduction of PA/AA regulation.’ 

A GMC spokesperson added: ‘We offer a range of discounts for doctors. Newly qualified UK doctors pay fees discounted by more than 60% for up to five years. And we offer a 50% discount on fees for doctors whose income falls below a threshold which is reviewed each year, and presently is £34,000.’

The move to GMC regulation for this professional group has come under fire from doctors, with the Doctors’ Association UK currently looking into a legal challenge against the plans and the BMA putting out newspapers adverts urging MPs to oppose the legislation. 

The statutory instrument which will allow the GMC to regulate PAs passed the delegated legislation committee on Wednesday, and it now needs final approval from MPs in the House of Commons and will also be heard by the House of Lords. 

Once the necessary legislation comes into force, the GMC will set out the standards for their practice, education and training, and operate fitness-to-practise procedures.

Doctors leaders have expressed concern that this will create confusion for patients by creating the impression that a PA is a form of doctor.

In July, Pulse reported on a GP practice’s decision to stop employing physician associates after an incident of ‘poor quality’ care contributed to the death of a patient.

And the BMA’s GPC for England has called for an immediate pause on all recruitment of PAs across general practice and PCNs.


          

READERS' COMMENTS [7]

Please note, only GPs are permitted to add comments to articles

Centreground Centreground 22 January, 2024 6:12 pm

Which one of us will be funding the private medical insurance costs and other benefits of the GMC employees?
I cannot conceive that the regulatory burden is any different in any substantive manner as an overriding concept for PAs or Doctors so how is the disparity of nearly 100% be explained?
Either doctors are paying too much or PAs too little.
Hence, the BMA should seek advice and perhaps consider a group action if the disparity remains unexplained in a manner similar to the countless other organisations who have overcharged their clients and had to reimburse these types of fees.

David Church 22 January, 2024 10:43 pm

Not fair. They should pay an equal amount towards the private healthcare costs of the GMC staff, at least.

Prometheus Unbound 25 January, 2024 10:01 am

When primary care PA salaries are advertised at £52k and GP salary posts start at £72k, it’s doctors who are being penalised to subsidise PA regulation.

Scottish GP 25 January, 2024 6:54 pm

Probably best if their regulation is ringfenced and ‘self-funded’ might end up quite expensive. Doubt it will cost less than appropriately qualified GPs 😉

Peter Scott 25 January, 2024 11:18 pm

The M in GMC stands for MEDICAL.
PA’s are not medically qualified and I fail to see why the GMC would want to get involved with them on any level. Surely they come under the umbrella of HCPC, the Health and Care professions Council, that covers other than Doctors, Dentists, Pharmacists and Nurses.
Comment please.

Scottish GP 26 January, 2024 10:45 am

Totally agree Peter, commentated same in another thread on subject, only continues to blur professional boundaries.

Prometheus Unbound 2 February, 2024 12:48 pm

Why should a PA on £52k be charged half the GMC fee of a medical registrar on £45k?
Are PAs just getting ‘regulation light”? If not its a doctor subsidy for PAs.
If they are getting “regulation light” then we need to know why?

And will it be the supervising doctors being hauled before the gmc for failure of close supervision, when gp practice managers do not all locate supervision resources?