Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 6 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many physician associates (a) have lost and (b) are losing their roles; what the surrounding circumstances were or are, and what assessment it has made of the potential welfare risks that this may cause to individuals.
Work is ongoing to improve the availability of data regarding the number and distribution of Physician Associates (PAs) across NHS Scotland. It is expected that these improvements will allow for the more effective analysis of workforce trends for this profession from the beginning of the 2025-26 financial year.
Individual decisions about the employment and deployment of PAs are a matter for Health Boards, many of whom will have considerable experience of utilising this role to good effect. The profession is a valued, long-standing part of the NHS Scotland workforce and it is important that discussions about the role are taken forward in a respectful and supportive manner.