Statutory Regulation for Clinical Physiologists - Patient Safety Matters

STATUTORY REGULATION OF CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGISTS
Patient Safety Matters

This Charter recognises the valuable contribution that clinical physiologists make to patient care in the NHS and their importance 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.

All clinical physiologists work independently and whilst the overall standard of practice is high, it is recognised that their roles pose a significant level of risk to patients. Many patients are unaware of the fact that their clinical physiologist is not statutory regulated. Sadly patient safety continues to be compromised because of the Department of Health continuing delay in regulating clinical physiologists.

We make this public commitment that I/we support the RCCP’s campaign for statutory regulation of clinical physiologists and;

• Understand that because of the close one to one work clinical physiologists undertake, often in sensitive situations, voluntary registration does not provide patients with adequate protection against those who are unfit to practice.

• Recognise that safety is the key stone of clinical practice and patient care and that we all have a role to play in ensuring that patients receive the highest standard of care.

• Acknowledge that a voluntary register has no power of enforcement, it can only protect patients against practitioners that are voluntary registered.

• Accept that a statutory system is better placed to safeguard patient safety, as only those practitioners registered with the relevant statutory regulatory body can legally practice.

• Urge the Government to ensure statutory regulation is in place for clinical physiologists at the earliest opportunity.