More than 1,000 Physician Partners (PAS) can start their careers in the NHS every year after regulators approved dozens of courses to teach them.

The General Medical Committee (GMC) said it has received 36 formal approvals to teach PAS and Anaesthesia Partners (AAS).

Overall, these courses can qualify for up to 1,059 PAs and 42 AAS each year.

GMC said that approval of training courses would mean “to ensure that patients, employers and colleagues have the knowledge and skills needed to practice safely when qualified”.

PAS is a graduate - usually with a degree in health or life sciences, who receives two years of graduate training.

According to the NHS, PAS works under the supervision of a doctor and can diagnose people, conduct medical history, conduct physical examinations, visit patients for long-term illnesses, analyze test results and develop management plans.

After Emily Chesterton passed away on November 30, 2022, calling for PA roles to be clearer and get better patient protection after the death of 30-year-old Emily Chesterton.

Chesterton was misdiagnosed by a PA twice in London and she said her calf pain was a sprain and she actually had a blood clot.

Most colleagues work in GP surgery, acute medicine, and emergency medicine, while AAS is part of anesthesia and a wider surgical team.

GMC took over PAS and AAS regulations in December, and he said 33 PA courses have been approved.

After some concerns were identified during the approval process, four of them were - in Bradford, Greater Manchester, Queen's University in London and Sheffield Haram University.

GMC said each of these courses has a “targeted action plan” to solve the problem.

Regulators do not approve courses at the University of East London.

GMC says AAS has only three courses – Birmingham, University of London and Lancaster University.

Professor Colin Melville, Medical Director and Director of Education and Standards at GMC, said: “This is an important milestone in the regulation of PAS and AAS and will provide assurance now and in the future that those eligible for these positions have the appropriate skills and knowledge, patients with the appropriate expectations and deserved.

“As a regulator, the safety of patients is crucial, and we have a strong quality assurance for the quality assurance process of PA and AA courses, just like we do for medical schools. We have been interacting with course providers for several years and we have only been approved to meet our high standards.”

In November, Minister of Health and Social Care Wes Streeting announced an independent review of the PA and AA careers led by Professor Gillian Leng, President of the Royal Medical Society.

"Formal certification of research courses that PAS and AAS must complete is an important part of regulations and public safety," said Danny Mortimer, CEO of NHS employer.

“We await the results of the Leng Review, but recognize that individual NHS organizations also have the responsibility to support PAS and AAS while using their knowledge safely and ensuring proper professional development and supervision.”

Professor Phil Banfield, president of the British Medical Association Council, said how GMC approves how GMC approves courses when Leng’s PAS and AAS are not over yet.

He added: “The medical community is astonishing about the quality and robustness of these courses and has 100% passed the exam report.

“We made clear doctors’ concerns when submitting our comments to Leng Review, including calling for independent physician agencies to have no links to course providers to determine the proportion and safety expectations of assistant roles that can be covered in the course during the two-year training period.”

PA Media contributed to this report