EBME Forums Forums Management Professional Issues APS update

And which competent regulated professional devises the good old pre-use check list?

It is also interesting to note that in a number of cases the anectodal evidence supplied to berate the VRCT has the following characteristics:

Harm/Incident/Error = Never ever happens in Medical Engineering
Lowly paid = Competent
Few qualifications = Competent
No qualifications = Very Competent
Highly paid = Incompetent
Degree = Incompetent
Higher degree = Very Incompetent
On the VRCT = Extremely incompetent

Nothing like ensuring that the "evidence" fits perfectly with the required answer.

Harold Shipman, Beverley Allit, registered healthcare professionals?

The tragedy of vulnerable patients at North Staffs, the failure in basic healthcare. The Clinical staff singled out for criticism, were they registered healthcare professionals?

The argument that compulsory registration will safeguard patients, and prevent the repeat of such tragedies is questionable.

In that case should the people who install/maintain the automatic doors or parking barriers at the entrance to the hospital, or those who lay the paving slabs or tarmac also be regulated as if either of these things are done incorrectly they can also injure patients? - Where's it all going to end.....?!

We're all doomed (or incompetent it would seem) without the yearly certificate. DOOMED I TELL YOU!!

I'm afraid ipem/vrct will have to manage without my £10 this year...

Far better in my view to move towards taking practical steps aimed at ensuring that techs are up to the job before letting them loose upon unsuspecting patients.

Things like:-

1) Stipulating that all techs entering NHS employment should attend (and pass) the "Falfield" basic biomed course (if it still exists) before being appointed.

2) Introducing Certification examinations on the American model (to be taken every five years or so).

Steps like that would produce measured results that could actually be referred to and verified, so not only would the "names on the list" would actually have some value, but the techs themselves would also gain (or be reminded of) some practical knowledge!

In short:- training is the answer (as it always has been), not "politics".

Yes and they can be struck off the register but if you are not statutory regulated what happens next?

Don't disagree with that sentiment it's just the argument about the appropriate training scheme!

I am sure the VRCT will cope! But I am also sure that you will disagree with the rejoining fee when you need to sign up again...

Jim, you appear to have forgotten the meaning of 'voluntary' all your posts indicate compulsory membership, as you have not achieved this in the past 10 years, don't you think it is time to try another route. The definition of insanity is "keep trying the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result every-time"

It would appear that you are missing the point.
In the cases mentioned, patients were put at risk and harmed by compulsory regulated healthcare professionals, who had passed all the HPC checks.

After their misdemeanours came to light, striking them off the register, or removing their pin number, smacks of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

As does the argument, what do we do to improve patient safety? We compulsory regulate, and thus the public has the assurance, that after a member contravenes guidelines, by causing harm, we remove them from the register.

Prevention is better than a cure.
Localised ongoing robust training, and good management prevents such incidents occurring, not a questionable compulsory registration process which will only prevent future employ in a role with that specific protected job title.

You have yet to convince me that a problem, if any exists within our specific profession, as you cannot provide any documented incidences of patients being put at risk, by Biomeds within the UK, which would warrant criminal or civil proceedings.

If a crime has been committed then you should call in the police!

@Neil: had you not noticed that a different tack has already been taken (clue:- *APS)? Meanwhile, compulsion has been the aim all along. It's just that (as you have observed) it is all "taking a while" to achieve.

@Sean: set up a clear, practical training (and re-training) and certification route, and you will have "won the day"!

* The Alliance for Patient Safety.