§ Ms MoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what statutory protection is provided to the patients of (i) paramedics, (ii) chiropodists, (iii) physiotherapists, (iv) clinical psychologists, (v) occupational therapists and (vi) speech therapists in(a) the National Health Service and (b) the private sector; and what plans he has to introduce measures to provide additional protection. [75224]
§ Mr. Denham[pursuant to his reply, 15 March 1999, c. 555–56]: I regret that my previous answer contained inaccurate information relating to the restrictions on National Health Service employment of clinical psychologists and proposals for statutory regulation. The revised reply is as follows.
Chiropodists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists are regulated under the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960. It is an offence
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Date Destination Reason Personnel £ 1997 12–14 May Cannes Launch Scottish Film Day Sam Galbraith, Private Secretary and 2 officials 4,160 19–20 May Brussels Agriculture Council Lord Sewel and Private Secretary 1,480 1–2 June Brussels Meet EU Commissioners Lord Sewel, Private Secretary and official 1,980 25–27 June Luxembourg Education Council Brian Wilson and Private Secretary 1,630 20–21 August Santiago Attend Celtic Watersports Festival and tourism promotion Brian Wilson and Private Secretary 1,685 2–4 September Copenhagen Study tour of Danish sport participation and school sports Sam Galbraith, Private Secretary and official 2,305 20–28 September USA Inward investment and trade promotion Secretary of State and Private Secretary 13,060 8–9 October Brussels Fact finding mission for Scottish Parliament Secretary of State, Private Secretary and 5 officials 3,980 4–10 October Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan Inward investment and trade promotion Brian Wilson, Private Secretary and official 25,070 5–6 October Munich Fact finding mission for Scottish Parliament Henry McLeish, Private Secretary and 4 officials 4,910 7–9 October Oslo and Tampere Meet Norwegian and Finnish Ministers to discuss Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment Lord Sewel, Private Secretary and 3 officials 5,935 16 October Luxembourg Environmental Council Lord Sewel, Private Secretary and official 3,145 to pretend to be registered under that Act. In addition, employment in the National Health Service is restricted to those who are registered under the Act. We plan to replace the Act with new legislation to improve public protection, including restricting the use of common professional title to registered practitioners wherever they work.
NHS employment of speech and language therapists is restricted to members of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. NHS employment of paramedics is restricted to those who have a qualification accredited by the Institute of Health Care Development. We are currently considering petitions to extend the 1960 Act to these two professions.
NHS employment of clinical psychologists is restricted to those who are eligible for registration as a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society. The Society manages a voluntary register under the auspices of the Privy Council.
The Health Bill, currently before Parliament, contains proposals for the strengthening of professional self-regulation.