The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7188 p311-320
9 March 2002

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Government gives in to pressure over health professions proposed council

Pressure from regulatory bodies has forced the Government to change its proposals for the Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals in the NHS Reform and Healthcare Professions Bill.

The Government has given in to demands from the affected regulatory bodies, which include the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, that Ministers should not select any members of the new council. There has also been agreement that any directions by the council to force regulatory bodies to change their rules should be subject to approval by affirmative resolution of both the Commons and Lords.

The Society's public affairs director, Beverley Parkin, said that concerns remained about the amount of detail for the regulatory council that was to be left to secondary legislation. "We are looking for a lot more clarification on the detail of the council's ways of working."

Nevertheless, the Society welcomed the changes that were to be made.