Regulators’ update
This of course is not our usual round-up of what the regulators have been doing recently with regard to consultations or publishing reports. It is mainly focused on Covid-19 activities and includes links through to the regulators’ Covid-19 website hubs. At the start of the pandemic, the 10 regulators we oversee as well as the Scottish Social Services Council, issued a joint statement How we will continue to regulate in light of novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
General Chiropractic Council
The GCC’s website hub includes advice for students and patients, changes to how the GCC will hold conduct committee hearings, rapid response as well as regular updates and news.
General Dental Council
The GDC’s Covid-19 website hub includes guidance for the public and its registrants, GDC updates as well as useful links to Covid-19 information from other organisations.
General Medical Council
The GMC’s website has all its Covid-19 related information including advice for doctors and patients, medical students and trainees and information about temporary registration.
General Optical Council
The GOC’s website includes advice for its registrants and the public.
Consultation on education and training
The GOC is currently consulting on proposals to introduce changes to its Continuing Education and Training (CET) scheme to make it more flexible and less prescriptive, allowing registrants greater freedom to undertake learning and development which is relevant to their own personal scope of practice. The proposals are based on feedback from its 2018 public consultation: Fit for the Future: A lifelong learning review, and further engagement with stakeholder organisations.
The deadline for responses to the consultation is 20 August 2020. To take part, visit the GOC Consultation Hub.
General Osteopathic Council
The GOsC has a Covid-19 area on its website. It includes guidance for registrants and the public, advice from government, useful links and updates.
General Pharmaceutical Council
The GPhC’s Coronavirus website hub includes latest updates and advice, including Q&As.
Vision 2030
The GPhC has also published its Vision 2030 which sets out a 10-year vision for safe and effective pharmacy care at the heart of healthier communities. GPhC has also published its Strategic Plan 2020-25. The Vision and Strategic Plan are both available in English and Welsh.
Health and Care Professions Council
The HCPC’s Covid-19 website hub includes FAQs and advice for registrants, temporary registrants, members of the public, students and education providers.
HCPC consultation on proposed changes to its standards of proficiency
HCPC has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the generic standards that relate to all professions on its register. These include amends to strengthen the role of equality, diversity and inclusion in the standards and the importance of ensuring that practice is inclusive for all. The deadline for responses is 30 October 2020. To find out more about the standards, visit HCPC’s standards of proficiency page. For more information and to respond to the consultation, visit the HCPC’s consultation page.
Nursing and Midwifery Council
The NMC’s website includes information for their registrants, students, overseas candidates, employers, as well as patients. It also includes FAQs and information about how to raise a concern about someone on their Covid-19 temporary register.
Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland
The PSNI’s website includes FAQs, advice and guidance as well as the latest updates.
Social Work England
SWE’s website includes information for registrants, the public, students, education providers and employers.