The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has issued its response to the Department of Health and Social Care's (DHSC's) Promoting professionalism, reforming regulation consultation on future options for the development of regulation of healthcare professionals in the UK.
Consultation description
The consultation seeks views on what the DHSC needs to do to protect the public as much as possible and at the same time support the development of the workforce. Responses will allow the government to consider future options for the development of regulation of healthcare professionals in the UK.
Response highlights
The RCP responded to the DHSC's call by outlining a number of proposals, including supporting professionalism as the main way the regulators protect the public. This should be done by:
- working closely with registrants, professional membership bodies, representative bodies and each other to regularly review professional standards to make sure they are the right ones
- providing clear, accessible and up-to-date good practice guidance
- regularly reviewing revalidation requirements to make sure they support continual professional development
- developing their understanding of the systems in which registrants act and how those systems can impact on their practice
- taking responsibility for their part in failures to meet standards.
Regulators were also advised to work more closely together identify how they can together increase the effectiveness of the system in protecting the public, particularly by increasing understanding between the professions. The regulatory system should reflect the fact the provision of health and social care is a multidisciplinary team venture.
Contact
For further information please contact dan.sumners@rcplondon.ac.uk.
