EBME Forums Forums Management Professional Issues Agenda For Change Voluntary Register ?

I was never really interested in applying to join the forces Geoff and in any case being a sickly, bookish, individual with flat-feet and myopia I probably wouldn't have passed the medical.

Not a lot of good attending Geoff Hannis’ “Biomed Boot Camp”, then?

Well Richard, I only wish I could type as much and so eloquently... but alas I will never reach your heights...

Back on topic, I have not registered yet and need too. I as you know was trained as a biomed within Manchester. Working with Mr Haylett when he was a mere mortal! I have also worked beside Richard,albeit as a contractor on site. I have years of experience and a HNC is the highest I went on the qualification front.

So if I don't register can I no longer work in this profession then? Or is this only when I change jobs?, will I be excluded if I am not on it?

In a nut shell what do I need to pay out and how do I conform to this rediculous "roll call"; as I wish to work in this field for a long time to come. Ok I could read all the stuff written but my eye sight in going in my old age.

What happens if you have no qualifications and are just starting to train, are you excluded or is there a way round this "catch 22" sitaution?

Thanks in advance guys...

Only twenty two years left or a win on the lotto then its my vacation time!

Geoff where is off the beaten path anyhows?

"Similarly, Geoff is keeping his hand in part-time at a large North London hospital"

A quote from BiomedBuddies.com
There is even a photo....and one of another regular poster.

There are no secrets with Google about.
I presume it is the same Geoff Hannis.
Robert

22 years to go then Mark, there I was still thinking of you as the " young sprog " at Crumpsall ha ha Back on topic, I don,t think a HOFIT ( hands on fixit techie ) like yourself should have any problems, I,m sure our German Friends will look after you proud.
As a mate of mine would say best to fix the kit than chase meaningless pieces of paper. Regards to Nige and the Boys. T.

Not a literary sort of chap, then, Mark? One who is from “off the beaten path” also follows “the road less travelled”, whilst “paddling his own canoe” because he “hears a different drummer” etc. etc. Get it?

But, in an endeavour the get back on topic, such a fellow that is “as free as bird” would not ascribe to a Voluntary Register (of any sort), now would he?

I have received a private message from another member of this forum (who has been closely involved with the register) asking me to amend my previous post where i said i did not have a say about the VR.

I do apologise as i did have say and was involved in getting the IIE to speak to IPEM. The IIE also invited 2 members of the Medical SIG to meet IPEM. I was one of those invited to attend those meetings and declined at that time due to other Commitments.

To Clarify my position. I personally think that the profession should be 'Professional'. Do we need registration of some form, Yes.
Will it raise our status - Yes.

Were 'enough' stakeholders represented/consulted ~ No.

Should it continue ~ Yes.

I agree and my VRCT registration is evidence of that.

Well I will register as there seems to be a need to keep one's job, pity that we as professional people have to though. I can see how it can benefit the Biomed game, though voluntary need not mean compulsory ?

Does it also mean that all company representatives will have to be registered before they gain access to your equipment? Just a thought ? Also will you be able to verify that they have and are not merely pulling the proverbial wool over your eyes?

I suppose this means I now have to find those old certificates and/or a visit to my local Technical college, with my pocket money in my hand...

Mark,

If it makes you feel any better the NHS is introducing Knowledge & Skills Framework (KSF) along with Agenda For change (AfC) and I believe National Occupational Standards (NOS) are being defined for many job-roles. This means whatever your job there will be requirements placed on all individuals employed in the NHS to attain certain standards. It's here.

Ultimately this will affect potential for job-gradings, potential earnings, development and progression. The NHS is trying to harmonise terms and conditions plus standards of attainment for all employees in fact, professionals and non-professionals. There is not really an option for employees of the NHS. There's no way of getting around it.

Additionally professionals in healthcare (in our case 'Clinical Technologists', under the umbrella of "Healthcare Scientists") will likely have to meet HPC requirements for registration if regulation is implemented. AfC, KSF and NOS have already effectively been forced upon us without adequate consultation in my opinion so is there a point worrying about this?

As for 3rd party contractors such as your employer at Hope Hospital, Manchester, I am curious to see whether individuals working under the auspices of the Salford Area Health Authority NHS Trust will be required to meet equivalent requirements of regulation of medical equipment technical services compared to the services provided by the NHS elsewhere.

If not then I guess equivalent evidence would be required to convince myself and colleagues that appropriately qualified (generally speaking) staff were being employed in equivalent job-roles that are likely to have a protected job-title; hence a requirement to be registered if individuals are employed in the NHS.

I am surprised that your private company employer has stopped organising registration with the VRCT and offering to pay for it like they did initially when I was employed there. Is this not the case nowadays? Perhaps there are not a significant enough number of staff working there that meet the requirements for VRCT now?

I know that the 3 out of the original 15 of us that worked in Medical Physics, that are still there to my knowledge, were eligible, if not registered with the VRCT as employees in your company after your current employer took over 3.5 years ago. However I don't know about the significant number in addition to this that have been and gone since then.

The contract is up for renewal in less than 18 months isn't it? I wonder what happens if it is not renewed - would you be obliged to TUPE into the NHS? What if the job-roles then had a requirement to be registered under the NHS? I suppose these are the sort of considrations that you'll have to weigh-up.

Anyhow the VRCT is a personal-thing at the moment but it's in the interests of staff and employers to determine what's best if employees in our line of work, whoever the employer, have to be registered when it becomes compulsory. Give my regards to Ivor, Alan and Bill if you see them will you Mark? See you soon Peter. All the best.