Parity of esteem for PAs and AAs with doctors - education and training
Dear Department of Health and Social Care,
Thank you again for your response to my queries about the agreement between the DHSC and the GMC in relation to the registration of PAs and AAs. You have explained that the phrase 'parity of esteem for PAs and AAs with doctors' means 'that the GMC will apply the same robust regulatory processes fairly and equally to all its registrants.'
I understand that the PA courses available in the UK, which were until recently unaccredited, have now all been accredited by the GMC, i.e. 100% approval rate. This includes courses with 100% pass rate, courses with 100% merit and/or distinction rates, and courses where the final exam, taken remotely online, consists of multiple choice questions.
Please advise what level of oversight has been applied by DHSC to this apparent lack of rigour in the accreditation process for PA courses. Please advise whether DHSC is satisfied with the examination process and accreditation of these courses.
Noting that examination at the end of medical courses is very considerably more rigorous, please explain how this gulf between study/training outcomes for doctors and for PAs can conceivably result in 'parity of esteem'.
Given that the phrase 'parity of esteem' appears twice in the MoU, as a responsibility both for the Department and for the GMC, and that you have described it as 'an underpinning principle of regulation', it is essential that health professionals and patients see that 'same robust regulatory processes' from the GMC, which is patently not the case, nor is there any plan to align them.
Please advise what action will be taken to ensure that all of the requirements detailed in the MoU will be delivered and what will be the consequence if any requirement, including 'parity of esteem', is not delivered.
Finally, if the DHSC itself is seen to be failing in its performance monitoring role, what is the mechanism for review of GMC registration?
Yours faithfully,
Susan Sollazzi
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Dear Ms Sollazzi,
Please find attached the Department of Health and Social Care's response
to your recent FOI request (our ref: FOI-1557516).
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team
Department of Health and Social Care
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