§ Lord Hunt of Kings Heathasked Her Majesty's Government:
What support they are giving to the National Association of Assistants in Surgical Practice in seeking registration by the Health Professions Council; and [HL1610]
By what date they expect surgical practitioners to be registered by the Health Professions Council. [HL1611]
§ Lord WarnerStatutory regulation requires the existence of an established role and accredited training. Without this it is impossible to set standards134WA of practice and training which statutory regulation requires practitioners to meet in law.
The Department of Health and the NHS changing workforce programme within the Modernisation Agency are working with the National Association of Assistants in Surgical Practice together with the Royal College of Surgeons and the NHSU to develop training for this new role. The changing workforce programme and the National Association of Assistants in Surgical Practice have been in dialogue about this project on an ongoing basis since it began in February 2003.
Since February 2003, approximately £1.2 million has been invested in progressing the development of the role and informing the training programme to ensure the long-term sustainability of this role. If such training becomes available from September 2004, it may be possible for the Health Professions Council (HPC) to regulate surgical practitioners. who have qualified, from autumn 2006.