UMAPs criticises DHSC consultation on renaming physician associates

The UK Medical Associate Professionals (UMAPs) has sharply criticised the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) consultation on proposals to rename physician associates (PAs) as “physician assistants”, warning that the process appears predetermined and risks undermining an established profession.

The consultation forms part of wider legislative reforms to the General Medical Council’s regulation of doctors, PAs and anaesthesia associates. However, UMAPs says it has “no confidence” in the process, citing its exclusion from key stages of the Leng Review, which informed the proposals. The organisation says its 66 submissions to the review were ignored, while other bodies – including the British Medical Association – were given privileged access.

UMAPs argues that the proposed title change is “regressive, professionally damaging, and serves no patient safety purpose”. The group notes that the DHSC itself moved the profession from “assistant” to “associate” in 2013, after concluding that the former title would hinder regulation and professional recognition. Reversing that decision now, UMAPs says, appears to be a concession to lobbying rather than evidence.

The organisation also warns that the new terminology would create confusion, particularly in anaesthesia teams, where “physician assistants” and “physician assistants in anaesthesia” would work side by side despite being distinct roles. Internationally, UMAPs notes, countries are moving away from “assistant” titles in favour of “associate”, reflecting greater clinical responsibility.

The group further highlights the timing of the proposal, which follows the Leng Review’s recommendations to restrict the scope of practice for medical associate professionals—recommendations accepted by the Secretary of State on the day of publication and now subject to judicial review. UMAPs says the sequence of recommendation, adoption and then consultation “is not a consultation process. It is a ratification exercise.”

UMAPs is urging the DHSC to reject the renaming proposal, publish consultation findings transparently, and halt the early adoption of the “physician assistant” title by royal colleges and NHS bodies until the consultation concludes. The organisation is calling on PAs, clinicians and patients to respond to the consultation before it closes on 24 June 2026.

Stephen Nash, UMAPs’ General Secretary, said the proposal risks worsening the strain already felt by the profession:

“More than just a title, this is about professional recognition… Legislating a title that implies subordination and undermines professional recognition is deeply concerning.”

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