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HCPC launches consultation on revised Standards for prescribing

01 Oct 2018

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) has today launched a consultation on draft revised Standards for prescribing

Currently, members of five professions that we regulate may complete post-registration training to become non-medical prescribers. In September 2018, over 1,400 professionals on the HCPC Register held an annotation for prescribing.

The HCPC’s current Standards for prescribing were published in August 2013. Since this time, we have seen a number of important changes in non-medical prescribing practice and regulation. In 2016 to 2017, we also updated our Standards of education and training for pre-registration programmes (‘the SETs’).

Katherine Timms, Head of Policy and Standards, commented:

“The purpose of the review of the Standards for prescribing has been to ensure that they remain effective and fit for purpose; are well understood by our stakeholders and the public; and take account of change, including changes in practice, legislation, technology, guidelines and wider society. 

We believe that the legal framework for nonmedical prescribing will continue to grow and change over time. Our Standards for prescribing therefore need to be agile and able to accommodate change.”


Prescribing is also an area where there is considerable regulatory duplication. Several different regulators have responsibilities to quality assure the same skills, and even the same education and training programmes, for different professions.

We believe it is sensible to set the same standards for the same skills, where we are able to and it is appropriate to do so.

Opening on Monday 1 October 2018, the 13 week consultation runs until Friday 4 January 2019. We would like to implement revised Standards for prescribing for the 2019/2020 academic year.

To take part in the consultation, complete our online survey, email consultation@hcpc-uk.org or write to Consultation on revised Standards for prescribing, Policy and Standards Department, Health and Care Professions Council, Park House, 184 Kennington Park Road, London, SE11 4BU.

ENDS

For further press information, please contact Anna Hill in HCPC’s press office on 020 7840 9806 or email press@hcpc-uk.org

Further information
  • The consultation will run from Monday 1 October 2018 to Friday 4 January 2019.
  • For further information about the consultation, please contact Sarah Ritchie, Policy Officer, policy@hcpc-uk.org
  • Responses to the document can be made by:

    • Completing our easy-to-use online survey: www.research.net/r/X32HY5Z
    • Emailing us at: consultation@hcpc-uk.org
    • Writing to: 

Consultation on revised Standards for prescribing
Policy and Standards Department 
Health and Care Professions Council 
Park House 
184 Kennington Park Road
London SE11 4BU

Notes to editors

The Health and Care Professions Council is an independent regulator set up by the Health and Social Work Professions Order 2001. The HCPC keeps a register for 16 different health and care professions and only registers people who meet the standards it sets for their training, professional skills, behaviour and health. The HCPC will take action against professionals who do not meet these standards or who use a protected title illegally.


The HCPC currently regulates the following 16 professions. Each of these professions has one or more ‘protected titles’. Anyone who uses one of these titles must register with the HCPC. The full list of protected titles can be found below.


The HCPC regulates social workers in England. Social workers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are separately regulated by the relevant Care Council in that country.


To contact us via social media, use the Twitter handle @The_HCPC or search the Health and Care Professions Council on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Professions and protected titles

  • An arts therapist is a psychological therapist who has arts-based experience and training in psychological interventions using drama, music or art as their primary mode of communication.

    Protected titles

    • Art psychotherapist
    • Art therapist
    • Dramatherapist
    • Music therapist

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

  • A biomedical scientist analyses specimens from patients to provide data to help doctors diagnose and treat disease.

    Protected titles

    • Biomedical scientist

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

  • A chiropodist / podiatrist diagnoses and treats disorders, diseases and deformities of the feet.

    Protected titles

    • Chiropodist
    • Podiatrist

    Annotations

    • Independent prescribing (IP)
    • Supplementary prescribing (SP)
    • Prescription-only medicines – administration (POM–A)
    • Prescription-only medicines – sale / supply (POM–S)

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

  • A clinical scientist oversees specialist tests for diagnosing and managing disease. They advise doctors on tests and interpreting data, and carry out research to understand diseases.

    Protected titles

    • Clinical scientist

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

  • A dietitian uses the science of nutrition to create eating plans for patients to treat medical conditions. They promote good health by helping to facilitate a positive change in food choices.

    Protected titles

    • Dietitian
    • Dietician

    Annotations

    • Supplementary prescribing (SP) 

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

  • Hearing aid dispensers work in private practice to assess, fit and provide aftercare for hearing aids.

    Protected titles

    • Hearing aid dispenser

    We also regulate the protected function of hearing aid dispenser.

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

  • An occupational therapist uses specific activities to limit the effects of disability and promote independence in all aspects of daily life.

    Protected titles

    • Occupational therapist

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

  • Operating department practitioners provide individualised care and skilled support alongside medical and nursing colleagues during the anaesthetic, surgical and recovery phases of a surgical procedure.

    Protected titles

    • Operating department practitioner

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

  • An orthoptist specialises in diagnosing and treating visual problems involving eye movement and alignment.

    Protected titles

    • Orthoptist

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

  • Paramedics provide specialist care and treatment to patients who are either acutely ill or injured. They can administer a range of drugs and carry out certain surgical techniques.

    Protected titles

    • Paramedic

    Annotations

    • Independent prescribing (IP)
    • Supplementary prescribing (SP)

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

  • Physiotherapists deal with human function and movement, and help people to achieve their full physical potential. They use physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore wellbeing.

    Protected titles

    • Physiotherapist
    • Physical therapist

    Annotations

    • Independent prescribing (IP)
    • Supplementary prescribing (SP)

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

  • Psychology is the scientific study of people, the mind and behaviour. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in individual and social behaviour.

    Protected titles

    • Practitioner psychologist
    • Registered psychologist
    • Clinical psychologist
    • Forensic psychologist
    • Counselling psychologist
    • Health psychologist
    • Educational psychologist
    • Occupational psychologist
    • Sport and exercise psychologist

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

    See our blog: Understanding the regulation of psychologists

  • Prosthetists / orthotists supply prostheses and orthoses to patients. A prosthesis is a device that replaces a missing body part. An orthosis is fitted to an existing body part.

    Protected titles

    • Prosthetist
    • Orthotist

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

  • Therapeutic radiographers plan and deliver treatment using radiation.

    Diagnostic radiographers produce and interpret high-quality images of the body to diagnose injuries and diseases.

    Protected titles

    • Radiographer
    • Diagnostic radiographer
    • Therapeutic radiographer

    Annotations for therapeutic radiographers

    • Independent prescribing (IP)
    • Supplementary prescribing (SP) 

    Annotations for diagnostic radiographers

    • Supplementary prescribing (SP) 

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

  • A speech and language therapist assesses, treats and helps to prevent speech, language and swallowing difficulties.

    Protected titles

    • Speech and language therapist
    • Speech therapist

    Check the Register to make sure a professional is registered and to see if any entitlements are annotated on their record. 

Page updated on: 30/11/2018
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