B4.5 Organisations that regulate professions in health and social care services

Question 1

What is Nursing and Midwifery council?

Answer 1

Statutory organisation set up by parliament in 2002. Responsible for regulating standards of professional practice for nurses and midwives in UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) and wherever they’re working. This applies to paid and volunteer improvement.
Education and training of nurses and midwives
Continuous professional development
Standards of professional practice
Standards of professional conduct in work and leisure time

Question 2

What power does NMC have over nurses/midwives?

Answer 2

All practising nurses and midwives must register with NMC who investigate allegations of members not meeting the set standards.
NMC has power to restrict a nurses practice so that they work under supervision, or undergo more training, or limited to working in number of areas, or to be removed from professional register, which results in them not being permitted to practice.

Question 3

What is the royal college of nursing?

Answer 3

World’s largest union and professional body representing nursing. Represents private, public, voluntary nurses and aims to maintain high nurse standards through education and research.

Question 4

What is health and care professions council?

Answer 4

HCPC was set up under Health and Social care act 2012. Promotes good practice and protects public in the UK from poor care standards. HCPC regulates number of health and care related professions, 16 to be exact: physiotherapists, OTS, speech therapists, social workers, paramedics.

Question 5

What may organisations need to register with HCPC?

Answer 5

Have achieved relevant qualifications
Meet standards of professional practice and personal behaviour required by council.
If member of the public feels that HCPC registered person is not meeting standards, they have a right to complain, the HCPC will investigate complaints, take appropriate action and may suspend or permanently remove individuals from register.

Question 6

What is General Medical council?

Answer 6

• Oversees UK medical education/training
• Decides which doctors are qualified to work
• Sets standards for doctors to meet in professional practice
• Take action to address treatment issues that may compromise patient safety
  GMC may restrict doctor’s right from practice if a concern is made, they may force doctor to work under supervision, undertake further training, or may remove doctors from register temporarily or permanently