Remember it is the job title not the job that will be registered and protected. Anyone can work as a "medical equipment service technician" but you will not be able to call yourself by the protected title of "Clinical Technologist".
If a job is advertised for a Clinical Technologist then you must be registered to qualify for it. If it is not called that then anyone can get it.
A person spepcification might specify that you need to be on the register but it should also say something like "or have equivalent experience". Unless the job is for a Clinical Technologist when the person specification will insist you are on the register.
Robert

Hi Just got my renewal in and decided not to renew as it is £72. This includes IPEM membership which for the last 5 years has had no cost benefit to me whatsoever.

I think I will renew the VRCT only for £10 but stuff the IPEM. IPEM membership only benefits your employer. ie. they pay less for IPEM events if you are asked to attend. If that is the case then they can pay ? Simple. They bear the cost and they can benefit.

Am I right in assuming I can just renew VRCT without IPEM membership?

Previous on this thread was an indication of people being coerced into joing IPEM and VRCT - This was definately the case for me. I was strictly told I could not have the job if I did not join....Surely 5 years ago this would have been illegal ?

I am on VRCT and NOT a member of IPEM - you assume correct.

Has anyone heard anything new on the go live date or is it still dead waiting to be buried

Thanks - Great JohnBhoy.

Saves me £62. Will remain on VRCT just incase and drop IPEM like a tonne of bricks - leans more towards physics anyway.

So far though have wasted £50 (5 years fees) which could have paid for a couple of nights out and a curry.

Some colleagues are asking if there are any joining fees at the mo if they have not joined already ?

Just a thought...

In the future will service engineers from medical equipment suppliers and independents like Geoff have to register before they are allowed to work on equipment in NHS hospitals?

I believe not John.

There are no plans that I know of to regulate independant organisations, so makes a mockery of the VRCT or compulsary registration doesn't it.

Anyone who dont join the VRCT knows where they can go now don't they.

I ask this question almost everytime an external maintenance organisation comes into the Hospital to service or repair equip under warranty or contract. The answer is alway no.

Even last time I asked a Gambro tech he knew nothing about it which is not proof in itself as he may just have been the wrong person to ask or happended to be ill informed but I will keep asking anway.

Actually the DoH and HPC white consultation documents refer to external organisations as well but I suppose you haven't read the various consultation documents, eh?

To support the arguement that people have been coerced onto the VRCT with the threat of huge fee increases, below is part of an e-mail sent from the VRCT in December 2004:

"Please follow the link below to find out more information regarding the regulation of Clinical Technologists by the Health Professions Council (HPC).

http://www.ipem.ac.uk/ipem_public/article.asp?aid=1171&id=

As this article states, regulation will occur in late 2005 or early 2006. All those on the voluntary register will automatically transfer to the statutory register. If you are not on the voluntary register when that happens you may have a problem! Firstly, there may be a mandatory requirement for you to join the HPC register. Secondly, it will cost you a great deal more to join the HPC register than the current £10 VRCT fee (HPC cost likely to be £200). Finally, joining the VRCT demonstrates commitment and support for your profession and also indicates your desire to have your chosen profession treated just as seriously as other healthcare professions.

The time to act is now. For further information on how to join the VRCT follow this link:

http://www.ipem.ac.uk/ipem_public/default.asp?Id=456".

April 2007 - still not compulsory, but how much money has the has the IPEM VRCT taken from those "scared" into joining?

Folks,
Once the profession is state registered everyone who carries out work at or above the level defined by the actual government sanctioned paper will have to be state registered.
If an engineer turns up and isnt turn thm away is the obvious answer to this.
You should be doing that anyway, if they arent able to work on the kit having carried out the relevant training etc.
Dont assume that because a manufacturer sends someone in they are able to do the work, its not always the case.