Our legal team have applied to the judge for permission to appeal against the decision she made in our judicial review of the GMC over their failure to define a scope of practice for Physician Assistants (aka Physician Associates/PAs) and Anaesthesia Assistants. 

This appeal is to Mrs Justice Lambert, the judge that heard the case. If she rejects it herself we have a second chance to appeal by making a submission to the Court of Appeal. Our ability to do this is dependent upon funding.

An appeal against a judicial review needs to be based on errors made by the judge, rather than different ways of arguing the original case. It is not enough simply to point out that her verdict failed to protect the public; we need to give legal reasons. 

You can read the details of our appeal here – but in brief, and with some simplification, we are challenging them because:-

• It was irrational for the GMC not to set scope of practice for PA/AAs.
• It was irrational to apply the ‘medical model’ to PA/AAs.
• The court erred factually in its consideration of the General Dental Council.
• It was irrational for the court to conclude there was no requirement for PA/AAs to tell patients “I am not a doctor” when this is already the approach taken for medical students.
• The Court misapplied the Wednesbury test; and it erred in its approach to Tameside.

Our barristers and solicitors have been working very hard on this; but we are now short of funds. Please do anything you can to help us.