Report on outcome of PSA consultation on good practice guidance to support regulatory reform

The PSA ran a 12-week public consultation between 22 January and 15 April 2024 on guidance on Rulemaking and Accepted Outcomes which it developed to support regulators in the use of new powers they will receive as part of the Government’s legislative reform programme.  

We received a total of 83 responses to the consultation from a wide range of stakeholders including patient representative bodies, health and care professional regulators, registrants of a health or care regulator, NHS bodies, professional associations, professional defence organisations, Royal Colleges, Accredited Registers, unions and members of the public.  

Responses to the consultation have demonstrated that there is strong overall support both for the PSA issuing guidance on accepted outcomes and rulemaking, and for the broad content of the draft guidance. We have also carefully considered concerns raised about some aspects of the guidance and made some changes as a result.  

The full consultation outcome report including analysis of responses and any changes we have made as a result is available here. 

The guidance is based on powers outlined in the blueprint legislation laid out in the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order (AAPA Order). The guidance will be updated to take account of any significant changes as new legislation is developed for each regulator and will not apply until each regulator receives the new powers. 

This guidance is intended to promote good practice to regulators and support them in making best use of their new powers when they receive them. We may ask them how they have used it in shaping their approach when we carry out our annual review of their performance.