Asked by: Tom Rutland (Labour - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Independent report entitled The Leng review: an independent review into physician associate and anaesthesia associate professions, published on 16 July 2025, what steps is his Department taking to help support those who have completed (a) physician associate and (b) anaesthesia associate training into employment appropriate for their qualifications.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The principal question of the Leng Review was to assess whether the roles of physician associate and anaesthesia associate, now to be known as physician assistants and physician assistants in anaesthesia, are safe and effective. The review’s findings were clear that, with changes in line with its recommendations, there remains a place for these roles to continue as supportive, complementary members of medical teams.
NHS England has written to National Health Service trusts, integrated care boards, and primary care networks reiterating their responsibilities to their staff as employers, including providing pastoral support where required. Importantly, NHS England has also written directly to the staff most affected by the recommendations, in the Response to Recommendations from the Independent Review of Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates (the Leng Review), setting out where they can find support if required. Further information on the Response to Recommendations from the Independent Review of Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates (the Leng Review) is available at the following link:
While decisions about recruitment are a matter for individual NHS employers at a local level, physician assistants and physician assistants in anaesthesia will continue to play an important role in the NHS.
Our forthcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan will look at how to get the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the best care, and we will consider the findings of the Leng Review when developing the plan.
Asked by: Tom Rutland (Labour - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support the future employment of people undergoing physicians associate and anaesthesia associate training, following the publication of The Leng Review.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The principal question of the Leng Review was to assess whether the roles of physician associate and anaesthesia associate, now to be known as physician assistants and physician assistants in anaesthesia, are safe and effective. The review’s findings were clear that, with changes in line with its recommendations, there remains a place for these roles to continue as supportive, complementary members of medical teams.
NHS England has written to National Health Service trusts, integrated care boards, and primary care networks reiterating their responsibilities to their staff as employers, including providing pastoral support where required. Importantly, NHS England has also written directly to the staff most affected by the recommendations, in the Response to Recommendations from the Independent Review of Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates (the Leng Review), setting out where they can find support if required. Further information on the Response to Recommendations from the Independent Review of Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates (the Leng Review) is available at the following link:
While decisions about recruitment are a matter for individual NHS employers at a local level, physician assistants and physician assistants in anaesthesia will continue to play an important role in the NHS.
Our forthcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan will look at how to get the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the best care, and we will consider the findings of the Leng Review when developing the plan.
Asked by: Tom Rutland (Labour - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Food Standard Agency’s official control charges on the viability of small and medium-sized abattoirs.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Information on the 2025/26 charge rates for official controls, inspections, conducted in meat premises is available on the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) website, at the following link:
https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/charges-for-controls-in-meat-premises
As in previous years, the impact of the charges will be offset by a taxpayer-funded discount, which provides the greatest proportional support to smaller businesses. The impact of the discount on differently sized food businesses in England and Wales for 2025/26 is set out in the Cost Data Slides that the FSA has published.
The FSA is currently conducting an evaluation of the discount and will assess the impact of any changes it might propose in light of this evaluation. No decisions have yet been taken.