Blog
Open Letter to the Secretary of State
18 May 2026 Rt Hon James MurrayHouse of Commons London SW1A 0AA Dear Secretary of State, Congratulations on your appointment. I am writing on behalf of UMAPs, the recognised trade union for medical associate professionals (MAPs), including physician associates (PAs)...
The reality of restricting PAs in emergency departments: our FOI findings
UMAPs has spent months gathering evidence of what has actually happened on the ground since the Leng Review was published in July 2025. Through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted to NHS trusts that employed PAs in emergency departments...
UMAPs’ Response to the DHSC Consultation on the Renaming of Physician Associates
The DHSC has launched a three-month consultation on legislation that will overhaul the General Medical Council’s (GMC) regulation of doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates. Just days ago it was announced that this consultation now also includes the...
Royal College Minutes Reveal Privileged Access to Leng Review – UMAPs Was Shut Out
Official minutes from multiple Royal Colleges appear to show that organisations opposed to the physician associate role were given ongoing, privileged access to the Leng Review process, including advance sight of potential recommendations and weekly reports...
UMAPs Welcomes GMC and RCoA Wins
United Medical Associate Professionals (UMAPs) welcomes the news that the Court of Appeal has upheld the General Medical Council’s use of the term ‘medical professional’ to refer to Physician Associates (PAs) and Anaesthesia Associates,...
PA Survey Results: The Devastating Impact of the Leng Review on PAs and Patient Care
Thank you to all the PAs who took the time to complete our survey on the impact of the Leng Review. Your voices have provided crucial evidence that we will use to strengthen our judicial review and advocacy work. Between December and January, we asked you to share...
Standing Together: UMAPs Members Vote to Secure Our Future
We are delighted to announce that all eight motions put to our membership following the Extraordinary General Meeting on 23rd December have been passed with overwhelming support. This historic vote demonstrates the strength, unity, and determination of our...
Major Victory: NHS Resolution Confirms Full Indemnity Protection for PAs and AAs
In a significant win for our members and the entire Medical Associate profession, NHS Resolution has provided unequivocal written confirmation that Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates remain fully indemnified under NHS schemes – with no strings attached. A...
Standing Up for MAPs: Celebrating Our Union Reps This PA Week
PA Week 2025 PA Week is a time to celebrate the vital contribution of Physician Associates (PAs) and Anaesthesia Associates (AAs) to patient care across the NHS. Yet for many MAPs, this year’s celebrations carry a deeper meaning - it has been shaped by...
Quarter of Physician Associates felt ‘better off dead’ after Leng Review
A quarter of Physician Associates say they have felt they would be ‘better off dead’ since a Government-commissioned review which proposed severe restrictions on their work and down-graded their status was immediately adopted by the Government and NHS England.
UMAPs Welcomes GMC Court Ruling
United Medical Associate Professionals (UMAPs) wholeheartedly welcomes the decision by Mrs Justice Lambert to dismiss the judicial review claim by Anaesthetists United (AU) against the General Medical Council (GMC) on all grounds. In her judgement, Mrs Justice...
Statement on NHS Injunction: The Fight Goes On
Friday’s hearing in the High Court – though it did not result in injunctive relief – was nonetheless incredibly positive for medical associates. These proceedings further clarified that it is up to individual NHS employers to decide whether and how to...
