Physician associates and anaesthetic associates in UK: rapid systematic review of recent UK based research

Dear Editor,

The Leng review: an independent review into physician associate and anaesthesia associate professions was established by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in November 2024. Professor Gillian Leng was appointed to lead this review.

Professor Greenhalgh’s systematic review, published 7 March 2025 has been formally submitted to the Leng review where it will be considered in full. We are grateful to Professor Greenhalgh for this contribution but note that this was not commissioned by the Leng Review.

To support the review, Prof Leng commissioned an independent review from the Policy Research Unit at King’s College London. We have ensured that the team at PRU is aware of Professor Greenhalgh’s review, and that it informs their own work where appropriate.

Alongside assessments of published research, we are also collating a range of other evidence and data, including a call for evidence, a dedicated survey and focus groups to gather views of patients. This will help ensure the review’s findings are based on the best available evidence.

We are grateful to the team at King’s College for conducting the independent review, as well as all those who have submitted evidence thus far.

Kind regards,

Professor Gillian Leng CBE