The Department of Health has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) on 23 April 2013. The Minister for Health David Anderson MHK and the Chair of the HCPC, Anna van der Gaag, have co-signed the agreement to strengthen and endorse the excellent working relationship between the Department and the HCPC, in the regulation of health and care professionals, and protection of patients and service users.
Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK said:
'The Department is extremely pleased to welcome Anna van der Gaag and other representatives from the Health and Care Professions Council to the Island. The joint signing of the memorandum of understanding builds on the good relationship between the Department of Health and the HCPC that has been established by working together to improve professional practice and regulation here on the Island. The future work between the Department and HCPC will continue to ensure that patients and service users are protected at all times by the effective regulation of professionals across health and care settings in the Isle of Man.'
Anna Van Der Gaag, Chair of the HCPC said:
'We are pleased to sign the MOU with the Department of Health in the Isle of Man. This MOU recognises the on-going working relationship we have with the Department and will allow for collaborative working and the smooth exchange of information on the regulation and the registration of HCPC registrants and ultimately ensure that service users continue to be protected.'
By law, in order to practice, most health and care professionals must register with a regulatory body. The Health and Care Professions Council is the statutory regulator in the UK of 16 health and care professions, including podiatrists, dieticians, radiographers, psychologists and physiotherapists. The aims of the HCPC are to protect the public who are accessing the services of its registrants, including investigation of their fitness to practise. In line with legislation, both here and in the UK, a person may only practice using a protected title such as those mentioned, if they are registered with the HCPC.
The signing of the agreement was a catalyst for the HCPC to hold a 'Meet the HCPC' event over two sessions in the afternoon and evening of Tuesday 23 April 2013. These took place at Keyll Darree with over 100 professionals from across health and care settings attending.
The Chair of the HCPC, Anna Van Der Gaag, Marc Seale, Chief Executive and Registrar along with Michael Guthrie, Director of Policy and Standards presented each session, covering a wide range topics such as Continuing Professional Development (CPD), standards and fitness to practise. An open forum for questions and answers to the presenters followed each session, producing constructive discussion.
