A survey by United Medical Associate Professionals (UMAPs) reveals 76% of PAs say their scope of practice has been restricted since the publication of the Leng Review.

The number of PAs averaging more than 11 patient interactions per shift has droppe, while the number of those averaging only 1-5 interactions has more than quadrupled.

The survey also reveals that two in five PAs report worsening patient waiting times in their departments since the publication of the Leng Review.

In addition, 39% of PAs in urgent and emergency care reported average patient waiting times in their department of under 4 hours pre-Leng Review, which dropped to 22% post-Leng.

PAs in general practice report that since the Leng Review, there has been an increase in longer patient waiting times of 1-4 weeks and 4-8 weeks, and a drop in patients being seen in a matter of days.

Additionally, 51% of PAs report an increase in the workload of their consultant or supervisor as a result of the Leng Review.

Stephen Nash, UMAPs general secretary, said: ‘The terrible impact of the Leng Review recommendations should have been entirely obvious to both the government and NHS England. Effectively sidelining some 3,500 highly-qualified medical professionals was clearly going to be disastrous for patients, associates, and doctors alike. Yet at no point did the health secretary make any assessment of how this would harm medical associates or restrict patients' access to care.

‘Far from protecting patients, it is increasingly looking like these changes were cooked up to mollify the increasingly radical BMA, which at the time of the review was threatening major strike action. That is why we are challenging the irrational recommendations in our judicial review, ensuring that PAs and AAs can go back to caring for patients and helping our doctor colleagues to shoulder the burden.'