EBME Forums Forums Management Professional Issues Registration VRCT Facts and fiction.

Dear EBME

Rather than being inundated with emails I thought it would be appropriate to provide an update on progress with the VRCT.

At the beginning of 2006 we thought we would see regulation of the profession during this year. Unfortunately, a significant delay was introduced to the whole process because of the aftermath of the Shipman Inquiry. This was highly critical of the General Medical Council and the broader arrangements for medical regulation. Consequently, Lord Warner commissioned a review of medical regulation. Shortly thereafter, the Department of Health elected to conduct a parallel review of the arrangements in place for the regulation of the other clinical professions in order to provide consistency of approach and in recognition of the blurring of traditional job roles in healthcare.

The review of medical regulation was conducted by Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for England. His report, Good doctors, safer patients; along with the parallel departmental review of non-medical regulation, focuses upon the protection of the interests and safety of patients. The Department of Health now invites views and comments on these proposals. You can find more information at their web site: Department of Health Consultation

Because of this delay we understand that the Department of Health now plan to complete the necessary work regarding the public consultation relating to the VRCT application (and other Healthcare Science groups) in the coming months. At this time the precise time scales are not known.

The VRCT is still open to new applications, there are now over 2,600 Registrants with over half of those working in the Medical Engineering/EBME community.

In the coming weeks the VRCT will be writing to all registrants to inform them of developments. I will also provide any new information that we publish to this site. In the meantime you might find it useful to read the draft scope of practice for clinical technologists which can be found at the following link: Clinical Technologists Scope Of Practice

Jim Methven
VRCT Registrar