Responding to consultations - our process

25 (2)      The general functions of the Authority are—

(a)     to promote the interests of users of health care, users of social care in England, users of social work services in England and other members of the public in relation to the performance of their functions by the bodies mentioned in subsection (3)(in this group of sections referred to as “regulatory bodies”), and by their committees and officers, 

(b)     to promote best practice in the performance of those functions,

(c)     to formulate principles relating to good professional self-regulation, and to encourage regulatory bodies to conform to them, and

(d)     to promote co-operation between regulatory bodies; and between them, or any of them, and other bodies performing corresponding functions. 

(2A) The over-arching objective of the Authority in exercising its functions under subsection (2)(b) to (d) is the protection of the public.

(2B) The pursuit by the Authority of its over-arching objective involves the pursuit of the following objectives—

(a)  to protect, promote and maintain the health, safety and well-being of the public;

(b)  to promote and maintain public confidence in the professions regulated by the regulatory bodies;

(c)  to promote and maintain proper professional standards and conduct for members of those professions;

(d)  to promote and maintain proper standards in relation to the carrying on of retail pharmacy businesses at registered pharmacies (as defined in article 3(1) of the Pharmacy Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/231)); and

(e)  to promote and maintain proper standards and conduct for business registrants (as defined in section 36(1) of the Opticians Act 1989).

NO – do not respond

YES – continue to 2

1. This section is taken directly from the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 and in this context, ‘Authority’ means the PSA.

YES – consider not responding (continue to 3 if unsure)

NO – continue to 3

Can we identify clear negative impacts on, or missed opportunities to significantly improve:

• Public protection?
• People engaging in or affected by regulatory processes?
• Fairness and EDI?
• The PSA’s Strategic Aims?

NO – do not respond

MAYBE – continue to 4

YES – continue to 4

HIGH IMPACT – RESPOND

MEDIUM IMPACT – continue to 5

NO to LOW IMPACT – consider not responding (continue to 5 if unsure)

YES – RESPOND

NO – consider not responding (continue to 6 if unsure)

Assess against other work priorities*

*Some flexibility in the order of application of the above criteria will be retained.