§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
What proposals they have to introduce interim arrangements, before the full implementation of protection of title under the Health Act 1999, to establish minimum requirements for safe practice for unregistered chiropodists such as a test of competence; and to ensure that patients are protected, as indicated by the statement by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 13 December 2001 (HL Deb, col. 1518) on the Health Professions Order 2001, when he referred to unregulated practitioners being trained chiefly to carry out basic foot care on otherwise healthy people. [HL2936]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThis is a matter for the Health Professions Council. The Health Professions Order 2001 provides a transitional pathway to registration for anyone who is not and never has been registered under the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960. This pathway is open to those who can demonstrate that they have been practising safely 39WA and effectively or that their qualifications and experience are comparable to the current requirements for registration. In either case, the new council may, but need not, require them to pass a test of competence.