Professor Forrest’s bed time thoughts perpetuate some misconceptions that
should be addressed. Membership of the voluntary register currently
administered by the Registration Council for Scientists in Health Care is only
open to those who have trained, demonstrated their competence and practiced
as clinical scientists; at the time that the register was created legal opinion
indicated that this was the appropriate position to take. It is recognised that in
some other spheres membership of more than one register is allowed;
however, under the legislation embodied in the creation of the Health
Professions Council and the proposed mandatory requirement for a
commitment to maintain competence, it is questionable whether any
professional will be able to maintain competence in more than one profession –
or his/her employer provide the opportunity to do so.
Professor Forrest’s reference to what the uncharitable might think indicates a
lack of understanding of the purpose of registration. The primary aim of
registration is to protect the patient; it is a commitment by the employer and
the employee to ensure that standards of competence are maintained in the
provision of services to patients. The employers responsibility is to ensure that
all practitioners are state registered and that appropriate facilities exist for the
attainment and maintenance of competencies relevant to that profession. The
employees responsibility is to achieve and maintain his/her competence whilst
conducting him/herself in an appropriate manner.
There is absolutely no intention to “keep out” well qualified MLSOs or “medics”
and to imply this is to show a lack of understanding of registration. It is not a
qualification to gain, a scalp to take or a club to join. If a professional can
genuinely gain the competencies and more importantly maintain them, then
one might argue that that freedom should exist. However, one would have to
ask for what purpose?
Professor C P Price
Chairman
Registration Council for Scientists in Health Care
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