In the United Kingdom , an anaesthesia associate is a healthcare worker who provides anaesthesia under the medical direction and supervision of a consultant anaesthetist (who is a medical doctor ). ^[1] Anaesthesia associates are not doctors themselves, but rather enter the role by completing a 27-month full-time training programme which leads to the award of a postgraduate diploma, or alternatively a 24-month training programme via University College London leading to a Master's degree. ^[2] It is classed as a medical associate profession . To be eligible, a candidate must have a previous degree in a biomedical or science subject, or recognised previous healthcare experience in another role. ^[3]

The role was introduced into the UK National Health Service in 2004, under the title of physicians' assistant (anaesthesia) , abbreviated to PA(A) . The current name for the role was introduced in July 2019. ^[4] Despite the similarity of the name, the role was always distinct from physician assistant , which refers to a non-doctor practitioner who works in areas of medicine other than anaesthesia. ^[5] At present, the role is not subject to statutory regulation , meaning it is not mandatory for anaesthesia associates to be registered with any professional body . In July 2019, the UK government announced its intention to request that the General Medical Council would in future regulate anaesthesia associates as a distinct profession. ^[6]

Serious concerns about the lack of regulation, transparency of professional background, and scope of practise, of anaesthesia associates have been raised by Anaesthetists United, a grass-roots group of anaesthetists, triggering an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Royal College of Anaesthetists on 17 October 2023. Those calling the Extraordinary General Meeting achieved a landslide victory on all motions proposed. ^[7]

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