Professional Standards Authority publishes guidance on new regulatory powers
The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has published two pieces of guidance to help the regulators they oversee in making use of new powers they will gain, as part of the government’s legislative reform programme.
The government has renewed its commitment to take forward reforms to the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Health and Care Professions Council. Reform of the remaining healthcare professional regulators is expected to follow.
The changes are aimed at allowing regulators to be more agile and efficient in protecting the public.
Using their new powers, regulators will be able to use a less adversarial and quicker process for dealing with complaints about healthcare professionals. The PSA’s accepted outcomes guidance helps regulators decide when a case can be resolved without a public hearing and when a hearing might be needed to maintain public confidence and ensure a robust review of the evidence.
Regulators will also be able to make and amend the rules governing the way they regulate. The rulemaking guidance lays out principles to guide regulators to use their powers transparently, with appropriate consultation, ensuring consistency where possible and in a way which prioritises public protection.
