The government has announced legislation that means that Physician Associates (PAs) and Anaesthesia Associates (AAs) will soon be regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC).

The move is intended to improve patient safety and support plans to expand medical associate roles in the NHS to relieve pressure on doctors and GPs.

The government will lay legislation on Wednesday to allow the GMC to begin the process of regulating medical associates.

The GMC will set standards of practice, education and training, and operate fitness to practice procedures, ensuring that PAs and AAs have the same levels of regulatory oversight and accountability as doctors and other regulated healthcare professionals. The regulations will come into force at the end of 2024.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins, said: "Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates are already making a great contribution to the NHS, supporting doctors to provide faster high quality care for patients.

"This new legislation paves the way for these professionals to be held to the same strict standards as doctors, boosting patient safety.

"This is part of our Long Term Workforce Plan to reform the NHS to ensure it has a workforce fit for the future."

There are currently around 1,500 PAs working in hospitals and 1,700 in primary care settings. There are approximately 320 AAs.

Dr Navina Evans, Chief Workforce, Training & Education Officer at NHS England, said: "Physician and anaesthesia associates are an important part of clinical teams across the NHS, providing support to thousands of patients with the appropriate supervision every day, while freeing up time for other clinicians.

"Regulation of these internationally recognised roles will ensure the highest standards are met as thousands more are trained to do the role. This is alongside a near doubling of medical school and nursing training places over the next 15 years as part of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan."