Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the regulation of Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates by the General Medical Council on the average (a) cost and (b) waiting times for cases to be (i) investigated and (ii) concluded under processes administered by that body.

The General Medical Council (GMC), as an independent organisation, will be responsible for the regulation of Anaesthesia Associates (AAs) and Physician Associates (PAs).

The GMC has confirmed that it will put resources in place to deal swiftly and fairly with future complaints and concerns about AAs and PAs, without impacting on service delivery for doctors. The cost of fitness to practise processes for AAs and PAs will depend on case volumes, which are currently unknown. These costs will be met from registration fees paid by AAs and PAs, supported by transitional funding from the Department.