Tuesday 05 November 2013
The Health and Social Services Department would like to consult with the general public and in particular relevant professionals on the extension of the scope for registration of health professionals in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
It is being proposed that any person practicing as a registered health or social care professional in Guernsey must be registered with HSSD to be legally able to practice within Guernsey (and Alderney). Currently a number of groups are not picked up by the local legislation as presently configured, and it is being proposed to widen this to capture all those who in the UK would have to be/are registered with a Statutory Regulatory Body.
1. The aim of this change is to give HSSD as the local health authority/department knowledge of all persons who are practicing as health professionals within Guernsey and Alderney.
2. It will also eliminate any uncertainties over the misuse of titles etc, protecting the public from those who have not the necessary qualifications etc to perform the role in the UK.
3. It will clarify the current position of nurses who are working in the private sector outside the remit of HSSD or the primary care practices.
4. It aims to pick up those professions which retain their own council/registration body beyond the remit of HCPC, and those who are not covered by local legislation even if registered under the remit of the NMC, GDC, GPhC or the GMC.
5. Protect the public as all practitioners wherever they are practicing have to inform the HSSD, who will then be able to review their registration and any restrictions placed upon it before they are authorised to practice in Guernsey, to ensure those restrictions are not breached by their practice locally.
We believe; but are prepared to be advised differently, the key groups we need to capture in the expanded local registers are as follows:
- Registrants of the General Optical Council
- Nurses who are not currently registered by HSSD.
- Dental Nurses,
- Dental Technicians
- Pharmacy Technicians
The following legislation does not cover the groups identified:
- Doctors Dentists and Pharmacists Ordinance 1987
- Nurse Midwives and Health Visitors Ordinance 1987
- Registered Health Professionals Ordinance 2006
It is therefore proposed to create a new ordinance under Regulation of Health Professions (Enabling Provisions) (Guernsey) Law, 2012 ("Enabling Law") to create a new set of registers to cover these groups of UK registered practitioners (and any others this consultation identifies) and enable HSSD by order add any new group the UK may create in the future.
At this stage it is not proposed to make the register any more onerous to the registrants than the existing registers require of those currently registered. These changes will ensure that a level playing field exists for all health and social care practitioners
This is the first step of process which does intend to consolidate all registration of health and social care professionals in to a set of registers created under the new 'Enabling Law'.
Written invitation to participate in the consultation has been sent to relevant professionals and there is the offer for Ed Freestone to meet groups or individuals to discuss these proposals. All formal responses will be included in the report going before the HSSD board to inform them of the views of registrants and also to shape the internal debate before any proposals are submitted to the States of Guernsey for its consideration.
This consultation will run until 31st December 2013 and formal responses should be provided in writing or by email to Ed Freestone, Assistant Director Strategy Policy and Engagement and Chief Pharmacist at HSSD, Corporate Headquarters, Le Vauquiedor, St Andrews, Guernsey, GY6 8TW or by email to efreestone@hssd.gov.gg
ENDS
