Paul,

As I've probably said many times in previous posts, I'm not against regulation/ registration but IT HAS TO BE APPROPRIATE TO THE WORK THAT MOST OF US ACTUALLY DO!!! If we are to be registered it must be as Medical Equipment Service Personnel (add your own title) not some form of latter day Medical Physics Technician. Been there- done that, didn't like it. We are service engineers first and foremost, we are not Scientific or Academic we repair medical kit, WE ARE ENINEERING!!
Please don't quote lower pay bands as an excuse to join the VRCT, a huge number of us have done ok on AfC without being registered

Apologies for my scepticism

Very heated debate here as usual. Too many people with personal agendas to be honest to take any of it seriously.

I am a member of the VRCT although I am starting to question it's worth (I joined in 2005 as I was told that regulation was DEFINETLY going to happen SOON! - Still no closer are we).

I am also a registered with the IET and Engineering Council.

My manager is not a member, and does not have much time for the VRCT peddlers. He is CEng - if that's not good enough then something is very wrong.

Is this registration going to be official soon - No - The Con-Dem goverment have bigger fish to fry than us little biomeds.

Have the VRCT been OFFICIALLY appointed as the group to join when registration becomes a requirement? The last time I asked it was No. For years people have been saying YOU NEED TO JOIN! Why do I? If im already registered (With a nationally recognised body), to a body that interviews you and ask's you to come down for the day to prove you are who you are etc. why do I need to to join a totally Voluntary register (Voluntary - Not Mandatory). A register that has not actually served to produce anything for my money yet. Im sure behind the scenes people are beavering away. But the only correcspondance you get is in December when your re-newal comes out, little wonder people are starting to ask Difficult question's me thinks!

So if anybody wants to join my group, i'm only charging £4 to join!

Regards of the season!

Paul, I think your comparing chalk and cheese, with the core professions like Radiographer and Physiotherapist you can't really perform those roles without actually being one. You can't really compare Clinical technologist with Radiographer. Some of the scientist roles on the other hand can often be carried out by university researchers who don't have to be registered! The only difference I can see is someone can't provide a treatment program without being registered. Although I suspect that if registration occurs the NHS will demand it and unregistered individuals will probably be classed as assistants and limited to lower bands.

Chris, what will happen to a band 7 if he/she refuses to register, demotion to band 3. I don't think so.

Neil, I think it will apply to new intake as it's already possible to see the vast variation in bands for posts between trusts and give them a opportunity to reduce pay they'll jump at it. As for those already in posts I think this is one thing we'll just have to see what they do if registration goes ahead.

If you guys must persist in prolonging this agony ... better let newcomers be aware of what's gone on before.

So ... from the beginning:- we had this, followed by this.

Chris, that really is encouraging. How many techs will transfer to the NHS knowing they will take a massive pay cut unless they join a voluntary group? Government backing no, accreditation status no. WHY JOIN?

Perhaps you've found the reason the government will support VRCT Neil, they already say the public sector is bloated. Although with the proposed increment freeze perhaps Geoff won't have to get the ketchup out for his shorts after all?

What conclusions can be drawn after reviewing those earlier threads I linked to last night?

Here are a couple for starters:-

1) The VRCT idea is not popular with many real* biomeds (those who get here on the forum, at least).

2) Even after all this time, it may not actually happen (some other scheme could yet usurp it)!

Anyway, surely there are more pressing issues?


* That is, blokes who still fix kit.