Scope of practice for anaesthesia associates beyond qualification

Published: 05/04/2024

The Royal College of Anaesthetists is in the process of developing a scope of practice for anaesthesia associates (AAs), both at the point of qualification and beyond, to take effect after regulation of AAs is in place.  The final draft of the 2024 AA Scope of Practice is now being presented for consultation. Details about the context, development and decision making processes of the 2024 scope of practice can be found in the briefing information.

Core Writing Group

A Core Writing Group is leading on writing the scope of practice, with representation from the College, the Association of Anaesthetists and RA-UK. The group includes a Clinical Lead appointed following an open recruitment process. The members of the Core Writing Group are:

  • Dr Satya Francis (Chair), RCoA Elected Council Member
  • Dr Fiona Donald, RCoA Elected Council Member and former RCoA President
  • Dr Jon Chambers, Clinical Lead for AA scope of practice and RCoA Elected Council Member
  • Dr Ros Bacon, RCoA Elected Council Member
  • Dr David Urwin, RCoA Co-opted Anaesthetist in Training Council Member
  • Dr Tim Meek, Honorary Secretary and President Elect, Association of Anaesthetists
  • Dr Emma Wain, Honorary Treasurer, Association of Anaesthetists
  • Dr Nat Haslam, President, Regional Anaesthesia – United Kingdom (RA-UK)
  • Dr Simon Heaney, Elected Member of the RCoA Scottish Board

Clinical Reference Group

The writing group is assisted by a larger, representative Clinical Reference Group, which will provide input and feedback on the development of the scope of practice. The Clinical Reference Group is currently comprised of representatives from a number of groups and organisations, including:

  • The Association of Anaesthetists
  • The Association of Anaesthesia Associates
  • Regional Anaesthesia United Kingdom (RA-UK)
  • The RCoA Clinical Leaders in Anaesthesia Network (CLAN)
  • Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) providing AA courses
  • Relevant RCoA Boards, Committees and individuals (Devolved Nations Boards, Anaesthetist in Training Representative Group, SAS Committee, Bernard Johnson Adviser for Training and RCoA National Clinical Lead for AAs)
  • PatientsVoices@RCoA
  • NHS England
  • General Medical Council

Relevant background and experience of the Core Writing Group

The information noted below is intended to provide transparency about members of the Core Writing Group’s involvement with work relating to AAs, rather than a comprehensive register of all interests relevant to all positions they hold.

In addition to the specifics mentioned here, all members of the Core Writing Group who are elected or co-opted members of Council have participated in discussions and decision making in relation to the College’s work on AAs since they were first elected or co-opted to Council. Membership of the AA Committee, formerly the AA Founding Board, refers to the Board established by the College in 2021 to lead the work we are doing to provide leadership and guidance on education, training and professional development for AAs.

Dr Satya Francis, RCoA Elected Council Member

  • Consultant Anaesthetist, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.
  • University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust employs AAs.
  • Satya Chairs the RCoA’s workforce committee and in that capacity has worked with AA representatives.

Dr Fiona Donald, RCoA Elected Council Member and former RCoA President

  • Recently retired from clinical practice as Consultant Anaesthetist, North Bristol NHS Trust (April 2024).
  • North Bristol NHS Trust does not currently employ AAs but has done previously.
  • As part of a team of RCoA examiners, Fiona participated in an invited review of PA exams in 2017, commissioned by the Royal College of Physicians.
  • Fiona is interim Chair of the AA Committee. Until recently the Committee was Chaired by Dr Claire Shannon, who stood down following her appointment as President Elect of the College.  
  • As President, Fiona has represented the College in stakeholder meetings about Medical Associate Professions including but not limited to those with NHS England and the GMC.

Dr Jon Chambers, RCoA Elected Council Member

  • Consultant Anaesthetist, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
  • Dorset County Hospital employs AAs and trains student AAs.
  • Jon has previously been the RCoA’s Bernard Johnson Adviser for Training. In this role he sat on the AA Committee and the AA scope of practice Clinical Reference Group to represent anaesthetists in training.  
  • Jon was appointed as Clinical Lead for the Core Writing Group following an open recruitment process.

Dr Ros Bacon, RCoA Elected Council Member and Trustee

  • Consultant Anaesthetist, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
  • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust does not currently employ AAs.
  • Member of the AA Committee.

Dr David Urwin, RCoA Co-opted Council Member

  • ACCS CT2 Anaesthetics Doctor at Royal Preston Hospital, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. From August 2024 David will be CT3 at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. 
  • Both Royal Preston Hospital and Wythenshawe Hospital employ AAs. 

Dr Tim Meek, Honorary Secretary and President Elect, Association of Anaesthetists

  • Consultant Anaesthetist, James Cook University Hospital, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
  • South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust employs AAs and Tim has been involved in their training.

Dr Emma Wain, Honorary Treasurer and Chair of SAS Commitee, Association of Anaesthetists

  • Associate Specialist, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic NHS Foundation Trust.
  • Robert Hones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic NHS Foundation Trust currently employs student AAs.
  • Emma has represented the Association of Anaesthetists on workforce matters since September 2022. In undertaking this role, she has attended meetings relating to Medical Associate Professions (MAPs) with the GMC, NHS England, RCoA and NHS Education for Scotland (NES).
  • Member of the RCoA AA Committee.

Dr Nat Haslam, President, Regional Anaesthesia – United Kingdon (RA-UK)

  • Consultant Anaesthetist, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. 
  • South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust does not currently employ AAs. Other board members of RA-UK do currently work with AAs.

Dr Simon Heaney, Elected Member of the RCoA Scottish Board

  • Consultant Anaesthetist, Clinical Lead for Neuroanaesthesia, Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian.
  • The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian employ AAs.
  • Simon is an educational and clinical supervisor for anaesthetists in training. He does not have a formal training role for AAs although has assisted with workplace-based assessments.
  • Member of the AA Committee and Clinical Reference Group.

Our work to support regulation and curriculum development for AAs, including development of the scope of practice, is funded by NHS England and not by membership fees.

This page was originally published on 5 April 2024 and amended on 19 June 2024 and 18 December 2024 to add the names and update the details of the Core Writing Group.