Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that patients are aware when they are being treated by (a) an Anaesthesia Associate and (b) other healthcare practitioners without a medical degree.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines set out that all healthcare professionals directly involved in a patient's care should introduce themselves and explain to the patient: who is responsible for their clinical care and treatment; the roles and responsibilities of the different members of the healthcare team; and the communication about their care that takes place between members of the healthcare team.

In advance of their regulation by the General Medical Council (GMC) later this year, the GMC has published interim standards for anaesthesia associates (AAs), and also physician associates, which make it clear that professionals should always introduce their role to patients and set out their responsibilities in the team.

The Royal College of Anaesthetists, in collaboration with other stakeholders, has developed the guidance, Planning the introduction and training for Anaesthesia Associates, which details the processes and considerations required when introducing AAs into departments.