Supporting Our Physician Associate Colleagues in the United Kingdom

Supporting Our Physician Associate Colleagues in the United Kingdom

AAPA Responds to the Leng Review's Misrepresentation of UK Physician Associates

October 31, 2025

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) has published a response to the Leng Review, a report centered on physician associates (PAs) in the United Kingdom (UK) that was released earlier this year.

Accepted in full by the UK government, the Leng Review serves as the basis for proposed changes to the PA profession in the UK. These include efforts to strip UK PAs of their title, as well as implement sweeping changes that could undermine their clinical expertise, limit their ability to care for patients, and put thousands of their jobs at risk. These actions threaten not only the livelihoods of dedicated providers, but more importantly, the continuity, accessibility, and safety of patient care across the UK.

AAPA has been in close contact with UMAPs-the recognized trade union for UK Medical Associate Professionals-and has stayed carefully apprised of the concerning situation unfolding abroad.

Given the far-reaching implications this report holds for the PA profession and patient access to care, AAPA undertook a thorough and independent evaluation of the Leng Review. As the leading organization representing PAs in the United States, the birthplace of the profession, AAPA felt a responsibility to assess the report's accuracy, fairness, and evidentiary foundation.

Upon completion of this review, AAPA has significant concerns about not just this report's research methodology and findings, but the rationale behind the recommendations put forth despite lack of evidence. Key findings from AAPA's research division are available in the full response.

As AAPA continues to modernize physician associate practice in the United States, we stand in solidarity with our UK colleagues to ensure that physician associates everywhere can continue providing high-quality, patient-centered care.