Regulation Of Clinical Physiologists

EDM number 997 in 2008-09, proposed by Charlotte Atkins on 05/03/2009.
Categorised under the topic of Health staff and professions.

That this House welcomes the valuable contribution that clinical physiologists make to patient care in the NHS in the context of Healthcare Science Awareness Week which runs from 6 to 15 March 2009; notes the importance of clinical physiologists in developing and delivering a wide range of sensitive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures directly to patients in the disciplines of audiology, cardiology, gastro-intestinal physiology, neurophysiology and respiratory physiology; acknowledges the significant impact these procedures can have on patient safety if delivered by those unfit to practise; notes with concern that despite the Health Professions Council's recommendation in 2004 that clinical physiologists should be statutorily regulated back and this advice being accepted in 2005, statutory regulation has not yet been put in place; recognises the value of the current voluntary register which has been compiled and administered by the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists but agrees that voluntary registration does not provide patients with enough protection against a small minority who are unfit to practise; and therefore calls on the Government to publish a clear timetable for a draft section 60 Order which will take forward the statutory regulation of clinical physiologists as soon as possible to minimise the potential risks to patient safety.

This motion has been signed by a total of 100 MPs.