Physician associates and endoscopy
The British Society of Gastroenterology is a multidisciplinary membership organisation which supports, guides, and represents its members for the benefit of patients. We are contacting you to reiterate our position on Physician Associates (PAs). This is in response to the recent scope of practice document released by the British Medical Association. The BMA is a trade union for doctors and medical students and did not consult with the BSG prior to releasing this document.
The BMA document recommends severely restricting the scope of practice of PAs, including exclusion from undertaking endoscopy of any kind. The BSG does not support the BMAs opposition to PAs undertaking gastrointestinal endoscopy.
JAG accredited endoscopy training in the UK is one of the highest quality and most regulated endoscopy training programmes internationally, and post certification scrutiny and quality assurance is unmatched in the world. The BSG is committed to working alongside JAG to ensure that safe, high quality endoscopy is delivered to our patients no matter which professional group delivers that endoscopy.
As part of the multidisciplinary team, the BSG welcomes professional groups who can contribute to the huge demands facing the NHS at a time of a critical workforce crisis. In endoscopy, we have gladly included Clinical Endoscopists (almost exclusively nurses at present) into the workforce, and they have made a huge contribution to not only the delivery of high quality endoscopy to patients, but also in the training of endoscopy to all groups including doctors.
Within the BSG, we have debated at length the role of PAs in the workforce including at Trustee Board, Executive, Council, Endoscopy Committee, and crucially with our Trainees committee. A range of views were considered in these meetings with the overwhelming majority supporting the inclusion of PAs in the workforce providing that they are appointed to appropriate positions, are adequately supervised, and do not negatively impact upon the training opportunities of our specialty trainees. The consensus statement on PAs from the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges is extremely helpful, and the BSG will continue to work collaboratively with other organisations to contribute to guidance across all areas of practice related to gastroenterology, hepatology, and endoscopy.
We do understand that there are legitimate concerns as to how PAs have been deployed or supervised in some clinical areas, but we will work with our members, and with Royal Colleges and NHS agencies across the UK to ensure that PAs are incorporated safely within our specialty to enhance patient care, and absolutely not to the detriment of our trainees or other members.
Andy Veitch
President, British Society of Gastroenterology
19th March 2024
Pause to UKHSA Helicobacter pylori isolation and Antimicrobial Sensitivity Testing Service
As a result of increasing volumes of specimens received exceeding capacity, the UKHSA Gastrointestinal Bacteria Reference Unit (GBRU) are pausing the routine UKHSA Briefing Note BN2025/003 Issued 17 January 2025
Read the new Gastroenterology Advice & Guidance
The NHS has seen major changes to outpatient services in recent years, accelerated by adopting remote consultations and telemedicine during the pandemic. This guide provides advice and templates for a key aspect of outpatient services, Advice and Guidance.
Alcohol Health Alliance urges action on alcohol-related deaths
Alcohol-related harm continues to place significant pressure on the healthcare system, with nearly 1 million hospital admissions each year linked to alcohol, costing the NHS £4.91 billion annually. The AHA has called for policies such as minimum unit pricing and increased funding for alcohol treatment services to reduce harm and improve public health.