PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: Tuesday, 31 October 2017
The UK’s fastest growing defence organisation MDDUS welcomes today’s government consultation launch on reform of the regulation of healthcare professionals.
Commenting on the publication of the Department of Health consultation Promoting professionalism, reforming regulation, MDDUS senior lawyer and practice development manager Joanna Jervis said:
“We welcome the publication of this long awaited and wide-ranging consultation, which picks up on the recommendations of the Joint Law Commissions’ report on the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals in March 2014.
“We will be responding in detail to the consultation questions, focusing in particular on the difficulties which may be posed by a reduction in the number of healthcare regulators, as is proposed. The focus must be on ensuring that the regulatory framework is fit for purpose and retains appropriate expertise in relation to each of the very different healthcare professions subject to regulation.
“We agree that the current regulation of healthcare professionals is outdated, slow and in need of reform. While legislative changes to the current framework are undoubtedly required, the key factors at the heart of any changes should be performance, fairness, transparency and patient safety.
“We welcome, in particular, the proposals on autonomy and greater freedom for the regulators. Reform in this area is vital to allow the regulators to function more effectively without the need to go through archaic legislative processes to achieve changes to operational practices.
“However, with great power comes great responsibility and we welcome the Department’s acknowledgment of the need for an appropriate level of parliamentary accountability and effective governance as a counter-balance to increased autonomy.
“Any extension of powers to the regulators to amend their own procedures requires proper and effective oversight and scrutiny of the regulators’ governance arrangements. We trust that any recommendations in this area will be dovetailed with the important work being carried out by the Professional Standards Authority in its Review of the Standards of Good Regulation.
“We are pleased that this consultation recognises the need for changes to the fitness to practise process to develop a more preventable and supportive approach for doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals.
“We support steps that make the complaints and regulatory processes less stressful for our members and more transparent for patients. Early local action is key to defuse most complaints. In our experience, complaints that are dealt with quickly and efficiently are far more likely to be resolved.
“We therefore welcome measures to address this and improve efficiency, transparency and decision making in the fitness to practise process.
“We look forward to submitting a detailed response to this consultation and working closely with the Department of Health to help them deliver a flexible, more streamlined model of professional regulation.”
Ends
For further information contact Richard Hendry on 0333 0434444 or 07976 272266, or email rihendry@mddus.com.
Note to editors
MDDUS (The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland) is a medical and dental defence organisation providing access to professional indemnity and expert medico- and dento-legal advice for doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals throughout the UK.
This page was correct at the time of publication. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.