GMC formally approves training courses for physician associates

The General Medical Council (GMC) has approved 33 courses to teach physician associates (PAs), the first time such degrees have been subject to formal quality assurance by the regulator.1 Three courses to train anaesthetic associates (AAs) have also been approved.

However, one PA course, delivered by the University of East London (UEL), was not approved owing to “concerns about the quality of teaching and course delivery.” The course will defer awarding qualifications to current students and pause the recruitment of new students until improvements have been made.

At least one cohort of PAs has previously qualified from the UEL course, and some of its graduates are already working in the NHS. The GMC said that …