A government-ordered independent review, known as the Leng Review, has concluded that physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) who assist doctors in GP surgeries and hospitals should be reclassified as "assistants" to avoid confusing patients about their roles. The review recommends that PAs should be banned from diagnosing patients who have not already been seen by a doctor, citing concerns over potential misdiagnoses. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has accepted all recommendations from the Leng Review, emphasizing that PAs should assist but never replace doctors. The review also highlights the need for better regulation of physician associates to address safety concerns. The Royal Society of Medicine’s Prof Gillian Leng acknowledged the important role of PAs but stressed they should not perform tasks beyond their training. The government has announced it will implement these changes immediately, including renaming PAs to better reflect their supportive role in healthcare settings.