@Sazza:- I believe that the basic solution to the issues you raise is that of training.
I have never understood why an organisation that employs (what is it now?) one and half million people does not offer a national training scheme for medical equipment engineering technicians.
There could (should) be a path of training progression, with each course earning qualification for promotion, and so forth ... Foundation, Advanced, Specialist and what-have-you.
If everyone working in the "trade" was required to follow the same (common) training regime, then we would all know where we stood. This was the way it was done in the Armed Forces, so I can't see why it can't be implemented within the £ <many> billions budget afforded the NHS.
When it comes to "registration", as I have mentioned (many times) on here before, I favour something on the lines of the CBET certification scheme found in the USA. This is an examination based qualification ("fundamentals" included).
