The Health Professions Council popularly known as the HPC is a regulator that was established to protect the public from unregistered medical professionals. The council’s main task is to keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards from their training, professional skills, behaviour and health.
To earn a title in the field of medicine, one must acquire the following qualifications such as degrees in med school, training courses and official registration. Handling people who are sick and injured is a very meticulous job that entails professionalism, skills and knowledge from a person who has undergone and submitted all the listed requirements. Using an occupation title like “paramedic”, “dietician”, or a “biomedical scientist” means that you must be authorized for your job and that you are entitled to help people in their specific health needs. It is considered a criminal offence whenever you are practicing the medical occupation without being recognised by the HPC. Because of this, the Health Professions Council has the right to prosecute illegal practicing medical workers.
At present, the council is monitoring fifteen health professions namely: arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists/podiatrists, clinical scientists, dieticians, hearing aid dispensers, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, paramedics, physiotherapists, practitioner psychologists, prosthetists/orthotists, radiographers, and speech and language therapists.
Along with the monitoring of the registration process, the Health Professions Council observes the performance of registered healthcare practitioners as well. If patients file complaints about a particular health professional on their medications and services, they may face certain charges and worse, discharge from the council and being prohibited to practice their profession.
The council is made up of committees and lead by twenty members made up of registrants and lay members where they are led by a Chair. They are the ones responsible for the development and policy strategies of medical practice in the country. Some of their major goals are to:
- Maintain and publish a public register of properly qualified members of the professions;
- Approve and uphold high standards of education and training, and continue good practice;
- Investigate complaints and take appropriate action;
- Work in partnership with the public, and a range of other groups including professional bodies; and
- Promote awareness and understanding of the aims of the Council.
Along with these goals, the Health Professions Council aims to provide quality services to customers and registering medical practitioners alike. The council would like to build a strong camaraderie between their registered healthcare professionals and the public in order to provide a better form of service to everyone who is in need.
Most of all, the Health Professions Council promotes their Equality and Diversity scheme that medical practitioners and patients deserve to have benefits and opportunities regardless of their gender, race and religion. As for the disabled, the HPC also set public standards in order to accommodate them properly and go on with their lives like the others.
