The completion of a series of reforms, to strengthen the focus on public protection in the regulation of health professionals including nurses, midwives and dentists, was announced by the Department of Health today.
These reforms mark a significant milestone in the Government’s programme to make safety and quality paramount in the care of patients by modernising the regulation of healthcare professionals, as set out in the White Paper, Trust, Assurance and Safety.
The key features of the reforms are:
- each regulator has moved to a fully appointed council, with parity between lay and professional members, to ensure that professional interests do not dominate
- new council members for the regulators will be independently appointed by the Appointments Commission against specific criteria relating to their skills and expertise
- smaller, more board-like councils will enhance the ability of the regulators to act strategically.
Health Minister Ann Keen said:
‘Healthcare professionals work extremely hard to provide high standards of care that patients expect. Regulatory bodies play a vital role in maintaining these standards and ensuring that those few professionals who fall below them are dealt with fairly and firmly. The changes we have introduced will continue to raise professional standards in healthcare and encourage more transparency and high quality services for patients and the public.’
Anna van der Gaag chair of the Health Professions Council said: ‘Under the new reforms to healthcare regulatory bodies we have successfully recruited a Council with a strong mix of skills, ability and experience drawn from all parts of the UK.’
Kathy George CBE, Nursing and Midwifery Council Chief Executive and Registrar said: ‘The changes following the White Paper enabled the NMC to implement stream-lined strategic decision making structures. This has enabled us to enhance our focus on safeguarding the health and well-being of the public.’
A General Optical Council spokesperson said: ‘The GOC has welcomed the Department of Health’s reforms to healthcare regulation. These reforms have reinforced the role of patients and the public as central to everything we do, whilst enabling fair and proportionate regulation of the optical professions.’
Similar measures will be introduced for the newly established General Pharmaceutical Council, which will become operational in the next few months.
