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 resilience, unity, and representation in the face of unprecedented scrutiny and challenges.
Over the past two years, UMAPs has supported members through hundreds of complex workplace cases – most arising from redundancies and unfair dismissal disputes. In many of these cases, employers had been misled into applying non-statutory “scopes of practice” and guidance documents circulated outside of regulatory or contractual frameworks.
That situation escalated further following the publication of the Leng Review and NHS England’s subsequent directive to implement its recommendations. Within a single week of that announcement, the number of members seeking representation increased by more than 600%.
This surge was not a reflection of poor practice by MAPs – it was a reflection of confusion, uncertainty, and misapplication of advice within employing organisations. In the middle of that storm stood UMAPs’ union representatives: professionals who calmly, expertly, and compassionately helped their colleagues navigate their rights, protect their employment, and safeguard their wellbeing, where other organisations failed to do so.
This PA Week, as we recognise the contributions of MAPs across the UK, we also celebrate the people who defend them – our union reps, whose dedication has been the quiet force keeping hundreds of skilled clinicians in the workforce.
Representation in Action
Over the past two years, UMAPs has represented members in around 500 individual cases.
With a membership of approaching 2000, this means one in every four members has received personal representation, advice, or advocacy.
To put that in perspective, the UK’s largest public sector union has approximately 1.3 million members and handles a few thousand cases per year — around one case for every 300 members. By comparison, UMAPs reps are working at nearly 100 times that intensity.
That level of involvement reflects both the challenges our members face and the incredible dedication of our reps, who step up every day to make sure Medical Associate Professionals are treated fairly, safely, and with respect.
What Members Say
The feedback from members who’ve received UMAPs representation over the past year has been deeply moving.
Each story represents hours of volunteer work: countless phone calls, meeting attendance, and document reviews. But above all, they represent solidarity: MAPs standing up for one another.
Why It Matters
Especially for MAPs, representation at the moment isn’t just about conflict resolution, it’s about dignity, empowerment, and professional confidence. Many members told us their wellbeing and outlook improved significantly after receiving support:
- The support greatly helped my mental health during the difficult redundancy process and I was lucky enough to keep my job.
- Being a member of UMAPs makes me feel like I have a voice and someone on my side.
This kind of impact shows that our union reps are not just problem-solvers, they are protectors of the profession’s morale and future.
A Message of Thanks
Stephen Nash, General Secretary UMAPs, says:
“In November 2023, we began this journey facing what felt like an impossible climb. The task ahead was immense, and the obstacles many. By March 2024, only four months in, a small group of us in a caretaker council were already being tested. The release of the BMA scope of practice meant that our time for planning was over – we had to act. Since then, the growth of the representatives team has been steady but demanding. The pressure has been intense, and building credibility with employers took time and persistence. We were so focused on representing and defending our members that we often had little opportunity to create educational programmes for representatives. Whenever we paused, another wave of ‘guidance’, ‘scopes’ and misinformation forced us back into action.
Eighteen months later, we’ve witnessed over 500 cases where those acting in bad faith sought to undermine Associate careers. Some battles we lost, many we drew, and now, increasingly, we are winning them. This turnaround is thanks to your extraordinary commitment and resilience. When the so-called ‘guidance’ dismantled roles in General Practice, you stood up. When the FPA collapsed, you stepped forward. And when Leng’s recommendations ignored her own evidence, when the government and NHSE made decisions that betrayed fairness and reason, you didn’t just respond – you united. You drew a clear line that this profession will no longer allow itself to be treated unjustly. You defended your colleagues, set new expectations for employers, and did all this while continuing to care for patients with professionalism and grace.
You gave me the space to work with an exceptional legal team and challenge the unfair decisions of those who faltered under pressure. I have watched as you supported one another, shared knowledge, and built the framework for regional and local representatives across the UK. You engaged with employers, rallied our members, and proved what collective strength looks like. You carried the weight with me – and often for me. Watching you grow into leaders who educate and empower others has been my greatest source of pride.
You have my gratitude and my respect. You are the foundation upon which this profession stands strong, and the debt owed to you is immense.
In the year ahead, we will create the space for honest, respectful, and constructive dialogue about our profession – by us, for us, and in partnership with our medical colleagues who act in good faith. That is our mission. It has been my honour to lead us this far, and if I am still here after the elections, it will be my continued honour to serve with you, develop you, and lead you to success.
Stand tall, Representatives.”
Sara Blenkinsop, Deputy General Secretary UMAPs, says:
Over the past two years, we have faced a degree of scrutiny and challenge that no other profession should, or has ever had to, face before. The unacceptable acts of bullying, belittlement, and deliberate attempts to undermine and degrade our professions are wholly intolerable and have inflicted levels of stress and uncertainty that for some have been life changing. Yet, despite these hardships, our shared motivation and purpose to make a meaningful positive difference, continues to inspire our resilience and determination.
Watching UMAPs grow and not only confront these challenges but also go from strength to strength as a union has been deeply inspirational. In the face of adversity beyond words, you have all shown extraordinary courage by stepping forward as reps, tirelessly advocating for our profession, supporting colleagues through difficult employment disputes, overturning redundancies, and challenging repeated unjustified attempts to stop us doing the jobs we are trained and competent to do and care so much about. In forming such a strong team, you have enabled us to dedicate focus on our legal case which we hope will put a stop to the injustices we are currently facing. Most importantly, you have built a foundation of solidarity and mutual support, uplifting our members and one another through every difficulty. Your efforts do not go unnoticed.
In these unprecedented circumstances, we have had to adapt and learn rapidly. I feel privileged to have learned so much from all of you. It has been incredible to witness our network presidents guiding and shaping our networks along with the wider management team, setting up workgroups and subcommittees, and nurturing talent within our reps. Their dedication has set the tone for the strong and supportive community we are today.
Thanks to your efforts, we are starting to see glimmers of the tide changing, and we remain hopeful that the sheer unreasonableness of what we have collectively endured as a profession will finally be recognised, including by those who may have been inadvertently influenced by the negative narrative that has been pushed. We look forward to a future of being able to build constructive relationships and pave a way forward with employers and colleagues in support of us.
We continue to stand together, united and unwavering in our commitment to our patients, our colleagues, and to one another. Our unity and resilience are without doubt, our greatest strengths.
To every one of our reps, your ongoing efforts, achievements and commitment are greatly appreciated. Here’s to all that we have accomplished together so far, the ongoing journey, and our future. Thank you again for your exceptional dedication and the positive impact you make every single day.
To every UMAPs rep: thank you. From us. From your colleagues. From their families.
Your dedication, courage, and compassion embody what our union stands for: advocacy, fairness, and community. You are the backbone of UMAPs, ensuring that every member who needs help receives it swiftly and with empathy.
And to every PA and AA reading this: if you’re not yet a member, there’s never been a better time to join.
Together, we are stronger.
