The Association of Anaesthesia Associates (AAA) welcomes the announcement of an independent review of the Anaesthesia Associate (AA) profession. We acknowledge the challenging and, at times, toxic nature of the current debate, which has significantly impacted the AA workforce and associated teams. We also recognise the necessity of providing confidence and clarity to the public and wider workforce, essential for moving forward and enabling professionals to deliver the highest standard of patient care.

This review offers an opportunity to objectively assess the contributions of AAs to patient care and the broader health system. Much of the debate thus far has been based on misinformation and polarised narratives. Despite the small size of the AA workforce, there are well-established anaesthesia teams delivering high-quality, patient-centred care. We hope this review will provide the much-needed evidence of the appropriate utilisation of skill mix within healthcare teams for the benefit of patients and service delivery.

The AAA is prepared to engage fully and constructively with this process. As a profession, we hope this review will foster a deeper understanding of multi-professional working for the benefit of the NHS and its long-term sustainability.

Sarah Massey

AAA President