It has been brought to the attention of the regional BMA that the management team at UHS (University Hospital Southampton) want to press on with a roll out of anaesthesia associates despite the strong mandate for opposition at the recent RCoA (Royal College of Anaesthists) General Meeting.

At this meeting ~90% of votes (with over 5000 members in attendance) voted in favour of the four following motions:

Motion 1) To pause the proposed expansion of anaesthesia associates, formerly physician's assistants. 

The motion passed with 4301 (88%) in favour.

Motion 2) To introduce supervision of anaesthesia associates, formerly physician's assistants.

The motion passed with 4527 (93.01%) in favour.

Motion 3) To provide information to patients [regarding the role of anaesthesia associates in their care].

The motion passed with 4211 (96.27%) in favour.

Motion 4) [To work towards an end in] rotational training.

The motion passed with 4146 (92.26%) in favour.

This was a very clear statement to trusts that anaesthetists are strongly opposed to the expansion of an unregulated role with no clear national scope of practice.

Doctors.

Raise your voices louder.

Hospital trusts across the country should not disregard this democratic opposition from over 4000 RCoA members. If UHS is allowed to implement this roll out without opposition despite stating they would abide by the outcome of the EGM, other trusts across the country will no doubt follow suit.

Let us stand shoulder to shoulder with our Anaesthetist colleagues in Southampton in solidarity and show a force of opposition.

We need to uphold the democratic outcome of the RCoA EGM, we need to continue our custodianship of patient safety and simply we need to protect against the erosion of our profession.

Please sign with your name, grade and current trust at which you work to show your opposition.